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VOLUME 13 , ISSUE 3 ( May-June, 2012 ) > List of Articles

RESEARCH ARTICLE

The Quality of Thermafil Obturations with Different Final Apical Tapers: A Three-dimensional Microcomputed Tomographic Comparative Study

Alfred Naaman, Carla Zogheib, Etienne Medioni, Gaël Bourbouze, Reza Arbab-Chirani

Citation Information : Naaman A, Zogheib C, Medioni E, Bourbouze G, Arbab-Chirani R. The Quality of Thermafil Obturations with Different Final Apical Tapers: A Three-dimensional Microcomputed Tomographic Comparative Study. J Contemp Dent Pract 2012; 13 (3):322-326.

DOI: 10.5005/jp-journals-10024-1145

License: CC BY-NC 3.0

Published Online: 01-05-2009

Copyright Statement:  Copyright © 2012; The Author(s).


Abstract

Aim

The aim of this study is to evaluate the influence of final canal taper on the sealing ability of Thermafil by using microcomputed tomography (micro-CT).

Materials and methods

Fifty-four single-rooted teeth were instrumented to apical size 40 taper 4, 6 and 8%. Teeth were divided into three groups. All teeth were filled with Thermafil (Dentsply, Tulsa Dental Products). Using micro-CT, roots were scanned and volume measurements of voids at 1, 3 and 5 mm from the apex were calculated using specialized CT software. Measurements were analyzed statistically with ANOVA followed by Bonferroni multiple comparison correction.

Results

Data analysis showed that 0.08 preparations provided better results than 0.06 and 0.04% tapered samples especially at 1 mm from the apex. Mean percentage of voids were significantly higher with Thermafil taper 0.06% (p = 0.05). None of the root canals filled teeth were gap free. Root canal preparations with bigger taper exhibited less voids than smaller tapered preparations.

Clinical significance

In our daily practice, enlarging the apical third (last 3 mm) of root canals to an 8% taper gives a better sealing ability and thus long-term success for our root canal obturations.

How to cite this article

Zogheib C, Naaman A, Medioni E, Bourbouze G, Arbab-Chirani R. The Quality of Thermafil Obturations with Different Final Apical Tapers: A Threedimensional Microcomputed Tomographic Comparative Study. J Contemp Dent Pract 2012;13(3):322-326.


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