Increased Density of Gutta-Percha Using a Controlled Heat Instrument with Lateral Condensation

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to compare quantitatively the density of standard cold lateral gutta-percha condensation and warm lateral gutta-percha condensation using the System B heating instrument in a low-heat warm lateral condensation technique in an artificial root canal in vitro. Thirty-degree simulated root canals in 30 transparent acrylic blocks were instrumented using Gates-Glidden burs and Quantec (NT Company, Chattanooga, TN) rotary files. The canals were then obturated with gutta-percha using standard cold lateral condensation without sealer. Warm lateral condensation without sealer using the System B instrument at 101 degrees C was then performed on the same 30 canals. A second treatment of warm lateral condensation was then applied to these same canals. The blocks were weighed after the initial canal preparation and after each obturation treatment. Results showed warm lateral condensation of gutta-percha using the System B resulted in a significant increase in density by weight when compared with standard cold lateral condensation. A 23.97% increase in weight was realized after the first heat application, compared with standard lateral condensation. A second heat application produced an additional 2.59% increase in weight over that produced by the first heat application. Data were analyzed using a t test for repeated measures. Both increases were statistically significant (p < 0.001). Warm lateral condensation using the System B instrument results in denser gutta-percha fills by weight when compared with standard cold lateral condensation.

Investigation of chemical changes in sealers during application of the warm vertical compaction technique

“…Although warm filling techniques improve the compaction of gutta-percha into root canals, when compared with standard cold lateral compaction (Nelson et al 2000), it is still necessary to use a sealer to fill voids and gaps between the core material and canal walls. Without a sealer, both cold and warm filling techniques are associated with greater leakage (Schafer & Olthoff 2002, Wu et al 2004.…”

A Comparison of Three Gutta-Percha Obturation Techniques to Replicate Canal Irregularities

“…Teeth obturated with cold lateral compaction (CLC) and different sealers exhibited leakage following minimal storage in saliva (5). Warm vertical compaction (WVC) can increase the GP mass density and homogeneity on previous CLC obturations (7,8). The WVC technique has shown greater ability to flow into canal irregularities (9 -11).…”

In Vitro Effects of External Pressure Changes on the Sealing Ability under Simulated Diving Conditions

“…Cold lateral condensation is one of the most widely used obturation techniques. Compared with thermoplastic obturation techniques, cold lateral condensation is reported to have possible disadvantages such as inhomogeneity, an increased risk of canal fracture, and poor adaptation to the canal walls [19]. Our study demonstrated a wide variance in the cold lateral condensation group during the pressure tests.…”