Effect of post preparation on the apical seal of teeth obturated with plastic thermafil obturators.

The effect of post canal preparation on the apical seal of endodontically obturated teeth with plastic Thermafil obturators was studied in vitro. Fifty-four extracted human maxillary anterior teeth were divided into four experimental and two control groups. Two groups were obturated with lateral condensation or plastic Thermafil obturator techniques; this was followed by post space preparation. Two groups were obturated as described above except that post space was not prepared. Apical leakage was determined with the use of 2% methylene blue dye solution at an absolute pressure of 75 mm Hg. There were no statistically significant differences between any of the groups. The clinical implication of these findings is discussed.