Analysis of the forces developed during obturation: warm vertical compaction.

The aim of this work was to measure and analyze the forces applied by endodontists during an obturation. This was achieved by devising a system of force transducers linked to acquisition software. The software allowed us to study the obturation forces in real time or to store them. In this initial study, the forces developed by endodontists and students during a warm vertical compaction were analyzed. The vertical and frontware backware horizontal direction forces were first stored. Graphs of the compaction forces were then generated, permitting the analysis of the obturation method. Indeed, two cases of obturation failure were analyzed from these graphs. The mean values for the vertical forces applied by the endodontists and students were, respectively, 2.5 +/- 0.4 kg and 1.9 +/- 0.9 kg; the mean values for the lateral forces were, respectively, 0.85 +/- 0.2 kg and 1.4 +/- 0.6 kg. This device permits the analysis of compaction forces and may thus be highly useful in obtaining improvements in obturation techniques.