Comparative Evaluation of Different Obturation Techniques for Root Canal Filling of Permanent Teeth: An In-Vitro Study.

INTRODUCTION

Achieving success in root canal (RC) therapy relies on three key components: comprehensive cleaning of the canal, efficient disinfection, and proper filling of the canal space. The present study aimed to compare the efficacy of four obturation techniques: single cone (SC), GuttaCore (GC), cold lateral condensation (LC), and C Point system for RC filling of permanent teeth.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

76 extracted human mandibular first premolars were divided into four groups, with 19 teeth in each group (group A, obturation with SC technique; group B, obturation with GC; group C, obturation with LC; and group D, obturation with C Point system). The samples were marked at 4 mm and 8 mm from the root apex using a marker and calliper, sectioned horizontally, and analyzed under a stereomicroscope at 20x magnification. The mean percentage (%) of gutta-percha (GP)-filled area was compared using a two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), followed by the Bonferroni post-hoc test.

RESULTS

The mean percentage of GP-filled area at a distance of 4 mm from the apex was highest in group B (0.86±0.04; 95% CI: 0.845-0.881), followed by group D (0.70±0.07; 95% CI: 0.664-0.736), group A (0.61±0.05; 95% CI: 0.595-0.642), and least in group C (0.58±0.09; 95% CI: 0.543-0.627), and the difference was statistically significant (p≤0.05). The post-hoc pairwise comparison of groups at 4 mm revealed that there were statistically significant differences between group D and groups B, C, and A (p ≤ 0.001). The mean percentage of the GP area at a distance of 8 mm from the apex was highest in group B (0.81±0.10; 95% CI: 0.761-0.861), followed by group D (0.75±0.07; 95% CI: 0.725-0.792), group A (0.69±0.07; 95% CI: 0.658-0.729), and lowest in group C (0.65±0.10; 95% CI: 0.607-0.709), and this difference was statistically significant (p≤0.05). Post-hoc pairwise comparison of groups at 8 mm revealed that there was a statistically significant difference between groups D and C (p=0.006), whereas no statistically significant differences were noted between groups D and B (p=0.473). Furthermore, no statistically significant differences were noted between groups C and A at 4 mm and 8 mm (p>0.05).

CONCLUSION

Obturation with the GC system provided the best results in terms of the percentage of GP-filled area at 4 mm. However, at 8 mm from the apical region, both the GC and C Point systems provided similar results.