Micro-Computed Tomography Assessment of the Quality of Obturation (Voids) of Single-Canal Maxillary Second Premolars by the Lateral Compaction Versus Continuous Warm Vertical Condensation Techniques

Statement of the Problem: 

One of the most important stages of root canal treatment is obturation for the root canal, an obturation with less voids will have fewer treatment complications in the future.

This study was conducted to compare the quality of obturation of single-canal maxillary second premolars by the cold lateral compaction (CLC) versus continuous warm vertical condensation (CWVC) techniques using micro-CT.

In this experimental study, 36 extracted single-canal maxillary premolars were selected. The root canals were instrumented by Denco Blue rotary files. The teeth were randomly assigned to three groups (n=12) of control (no root filling), root canal obturation with CLC technique, and root canal obturation with CWVC technique. Next, they underwent micro-CT, and the mean volume and volume percentage (VP) of voids were calculated in the apical, middle, and coronal thirds of the root canals. Data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA, the Kruskal-Wallis, Mann-Whitney U, Bonferroni, Dunnett, Tukey, and independent t-tests (p Value<0.05)

In the coronal third, no significant difference was found between the CLC and CWVC groups in the mean volume of voids (p= 0.273), the mean volume of filled space (p= 0.419), or the VP of voids (p= 0.605). The highest mean volume and VP of voids were recorded in the coronal part of the group CWVC (p> 0.05). The lowest mean volume and VP of voids was recorded in the apical third in CWVC group (p< 0.05).

None of the obturation techniques could provide a void-free root filling. Two techniques showed no significant difference regarding the mean volume and VP of voids in obturation of single-canal maxillary second premolars.