• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.671-684
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• 1995

The purpose of this study was to compare the apical sealing ability, overfilling and obturation of lateral canals using two gutta-percha techniques: Thermafil obturators and cold lateral condensation. Eighty numbered epoxide blocks with one major and five lateral canals were divided into four experimental groups and obturated according to experimental groups. Four experimental groups were as follows: Group 1 : Filling with Thermafil plastic obturators and sealer(ThermaSeal) Group 2 : Filling with Thermafil plastic obturators only, without sealer(ThermaSeal) Group 3 : Fillng using lateral condensation with sealer(AH-26) Group 4 : Fillng using lateral condensation without sealer(AH-26) All the blocks were stored in 100% relative humidor at room temperature for 7 days. Each block was placed in centrifuge tube filled with India ink, and then centrifuged for 20 minutes at 3,000 rpm. Apical leakage was measured from the apical foramen to the most coronal level of dye penetration in millimeter under a stereoscope. The length of gutta-percha and sealer in each of the lateral canals was measured, too. The presence or absence of overfilling of gutta-percha and sealer was recorded. The data was analyzed by one-way ANOVA. The obtained results were as follows: l. Apical dye leakage was almost: not occurred in Group Willed with Thermafil and sealer) and Group 3(filled using lateral condensation with sealer), and there was no significant difference in linear leakage between two groups(p>0.01). 2. In both Thermafil and lateral condensation groups, linear leakage of Group I, 3(filled with sealer) was less than that of Group 2, 4(filled without sealer), and there was no significant difference in linear leakage between Group 1, 2, 3(p> 0.01). 3. Overfilling during obturation of Group 1, 2(filled with Thermafil) was more than Group 3, 4(filled using lateral condensation), and there was no significant difference between groups(p> 0.05). 4. Groups filled with Thermafil had significantly more gutta-percha than groups filled using lateral condensation in all lateral canals(p <0.01), the total length of gutta-percha and sealer found in all lateral canals were similar in Group 1 and Group 3.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.517-529
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• 1996

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the apical sealing ability of the Thermafil endodontic obturation technique and to compare it with lateral condensation technique. 42 straight canals from extracted human anterior teeth and 42 curved canals(> $25^{\circ}$) from maxillary and mandibular molar teeth were selected. And 80 of them were divided into four groups, 20 canals respectively. The teeth in prior two groups had straight canals and the other two groups had curved canals. The rest of four canals served as positive and negative controls. After resecting anatomical crowns, all canals were prepared using a standard step-back technique. Lateral condensation was used to obturate two groups, one group of straight ones the other curved. And Thermafil obturators were also used in the same two groups. Obturated teeth were infiltrated by India ink for a week, decalcified and cleared with 5% nitric acid and methyl salicylate. The apical leakage and the frequency of filled lateral and accessory canals were measured with stereomicroscope and also apical extrusion of sealer and gutta-percha and obturation time were checked and the data were analyzed statistically(one-way ANOVA, t-test, Chi-square test). The results were as follows : 1. There was no significant difference in the degree of dye penetration between Thermafil and lateral condensation groups(p>0.05). 2. Apical extrusion of sealer and gutta-percha occurred significantly more often with Thermafil obturators in straight canals(p<0.05), but not significantly different in curved canals(p>0.05). 3. Canal obturation time with Thermafil obturators was significantly faster than lateral condensation (p<0.05). 4. The Thermafil groups showed a higher frequency of filled lateral and accessory canals than in the lateral condensation groups. But the difference was not statistically significant (p>0.05).