This study was designed to compare a warm gutta-percha obturation technique, Thermafil Plus (Tulsa Dental, Tulsa OK), with lateral condensation for the ability to adapt gutta-percha to the walls of a root canal system. An extracted sectioned and mounted maxillary central incisor had canal irregularities created and was subsequently subjected to multiple obturations using both techniques. Length of fill, replication to working length, number of artificial depressions replicated, quality of replications, number of voids, and general appearance of obturation were all evaluated using standardized criteria. Data evaluation consisted of a one way analysis of variance on the same type defects between obturation groups followed by a Scheffé post-hoc test. A statistically significant difference was found between the groups in each category of evaluation. Gutta-percha using Thermafil was better able to flow into lateral spaces, had fewer voids, and replicated the surface of the root better. It also, however, was extruded out the apical foramen more than in the lateral condensation group.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.