Browsing by Author "Clavier, Olivier Patrick Philippe"
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- Comparison of apical sealing capacity of two obturation techniques: obturation technique of single cone vs obturation with Guttacore®Publication . Clavier, Olivier Patrick Philippe; Guimarães, DuarteObjective: This in vitro study aimed to evaluate and compare the apical sealing ability of two endodontic obturation techniques: Single Cone (SC) and GuttaCore® (GC), using two different apical preparation sizes (F2 and F3). The assessment was based on dye penetration using a neutral pH 0.5% methylene blue solution. Materials and Methods: Ninety extracted human single-rooted teeth were selected. Eighty were randomly assigned to four experimental groups (n = 20): SC-F2, SC-F3, GC-F2, and GC-F3. Ten additional teeth were divided into two control groups (positive and negative, n = 5 each). Root canal instrumentation was standardized using the ProTaper Ultimate™ system. Working length was determined by visualizing a #15 K-file at the apical foramen and subtracting 0.5 mm. Irrigation during instrumentation was performed with 2.5% sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl). Final irrigation included 10% citric acid, followed by NaOCl and 96% ethanol. Obturation was carried out according to each group’s assigned technique: either a single gutta-percha cone (SC) or a GuttaCore® carrier-based system (GC), both used with a resin-based sealer (AH Plus Jet). After obturation, all roots were coated with two layers of nail varnish, leaving the apical 2 mm uncoated. Samples were immersed in 0.5% methylene blue solution (pH 7) for 24 hours, then sectioned longitudinally in the bucco-lingual direction using a diamond disc under continuous water irrigation. Dye infiltration was measured in millimeters from the anatomical apex to the most coronal point of penetration along the main canal. When both halves were clearly measurable, their average was used; otherwise, the value from one readable half was recorded. Results: The GC-F2 group showed the lowest mean dye penetration, while the GC-F3 group showed the highest. Data distribution was non-normal according to the Shapiro-Wilk test, justifying the use of the non-parametric Kruskal-Wallis test. A statistically significant difference was found between the F2 and F3 groups (p < 0.05). However, no significant difference was observed between the SC and GC techniques. Pairwise comparisons confirmed that apical preparation size influenced leakage, but obturation technique did not. Discussion: Smaller apical preparations (F2) may enhance sealing by improving material adaptation and reducing sealer volume. While GC allows central compaction and is user-friendly, its benefits may be less effective with larger apical diameters. The use of methylene blue and the measurement from the anatomical apex may slightly overestimate leakage but does not invalidate the comparative analysis. Conclusion: Among the tested groups, GC with F2 preparation demonstrated the best apical sealing. Apical diameter significantly influenced microleakage, whereas the obturation technique itself did not. Further studies are recommended to evaluate long-term clinical outcomes, especially in teeth with large apical configurations.