Gutta-percha: a comparative study of three methods of obturation

Abstract

A comparative study of three commonly used gutta-percha filling techniques—Kloroperka infusion, vertical condensation with warm gutta-percha, and lateral condensation—was undertaken to see which method best replicated the entire prepared root canal system. Models of the root canals were made by dissolving the tooth structure away after the root canals were filled. Kloroperka infusion proved to be superior to warm gutta-percha with vertical condensation and to lateral condensation in replication of morphologic aberrations, uniform sealer dispersement, and homogeneity of filling. All three techniques proved equally satisfactory in density of filling, conformity to the prepared root canal, and conformity to the shape of the apical preparation. It appears that of these three techniques, Kloroperka infusion best replicates the prepared root canal system and its inherent morphologic aberrations. A comparative study of three commonly used gutta-percha filling techniques—Kloroperka infusion, vertical condensation with warm gutta-percha, and lateral condensation—was undertaken to see which method best replicated the entire prepared root canal system. Models of the root canals were made by dissolving the tooth structure away after the root canals were filled. Kloroperka infusion proved to be superior to warm gutta-percha with vertical condensation and to lateral condensation in replication of morphologic aberrations, uniform sealer dispersement, and homogeneity of filling. All three techniques proved equally satisfactory in density of filling, conformity to the prepared root canal, and conformity to the shape of the apical preparation. It appears that of these three techniques, Kloroperka infusion best replicates the prepared root canal system and its inherent morphologic aberrations.