• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.66-71
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• 2006

To evaluate the ratio of gutta-percha area in the canal after canal obturation with Continuous Wave of Condensation Technique (CWCT) with varying depths of plugger penetration, forty root canals of extracted human teeth were prepared up to size 40 of 0.06 taper with $ProFile^{(R)}$. Canals of three groups were filled with CWCT with System $B^{TM}$ (Analytic Tech. , USA) and different plugger penetration depths of 3, 5, or 7 mm from the apex. Canals of one group were filled with lateral condensation technique as a control The felled teeth were cross-sectioned at 1, 2 and 3 mm levels from the apical foramen. The ratio of gutta-percha area in the canal was analyzed using $Auto^{(R)}$ Cad 2000. Data were analyzed with one-way ANOVA and Duncan's multiple range test. At all levels, higher gutta-percha area ratio was found with deeper plugger penetration depth in CWCT, and cold lateral condensation group showed higher ratio than group of plugger penetration to apical 7 mm in CWCT. At apical 1 mm and 2 mm levels, group of plugger penetration to apical 3 mm showed significantly high or gutta-percha area ratio than those of apical 7 mm and lateral condensation (p<0.05). It is concluded therefore that, under the conditions of the present study, deeper plugger penetration depth results in more favorable and efficient obturation in CWCT.