Introduction: Root canal obturation seals the root canal system to prevent re-entry and/or growth of microorganisms. The provision of an appropriate restoration to coronally seal the access cavity affects the success of endodontic treatment. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the coronal microbial leakage in root canals that were either filled by lateral compaction, GuttaFlow or warm vertical compaction.aterials and Methods: In this ex vivo study, 80 single-rooted human extracted teeth were randomly divided into three experimental groups (n=20) and two positive and negative control groups (n=10). The teeth in experimental groups were obturated with cold lateral compaction, GuttaFlow system or warm vertical compaction techniques. After sterilization of the whole system with gamma-ray, saliva leakage was tested using a split-chamber model.Specimens were monitored every 24 hours for 30 days. The data were analyzed using log-rank and Kaplan-Meier survival analysis tests.Results: There were no significant differences in impeding saliva leakage between the three experimental groups (P>0.05).Conclusion: Under the conditions of this ex vivo study, it can be concluded that the sealing ability of cold lateral compaction, warm vertical compaction and GuttaFlow system was comparable.

Introduction: Proper apical seal and obturation density are essential to long-term success of root canal  therapy (RCT). The apical seal and density of lateral compaction techniques using stainless-steel and nickel-titanium spreaders and vertical compaction with BeeFill device were compared in this in vitro study.Materials and Methods: A total of 66 extracted maxillary central incisors were instrumented. The volume of each canal was determined after preparation. The weight of each root was measured before and after obturation. Lateral compaction technique was performed using stainless-steel (groups a) and nickel-titanium spreaders (groups b), filled with AH26 sealer (groups 1a and 1b) and without sealer (groups 2a and 2b). Canals in vertical compaction technique (groups c) were filled with (group 1c) and without (group 2c) sealer using Beefill system. Density was determined as the ratio of weight/volume. Sealing ability was evaluated using dye penetration method. Data was analyzed with ANOVA and T-test.Results: T-test results showed a significant difference between groups which were filled with/without sealer for their apical sealing ability (P<0.001), however there was no significant difference in obturation density (P=0.397). ANOVA test showed that there was a significant difference in apical sealing ability among the different experimental groups (P<0.001), while there was no significant difference in density (P=0.456) of obturation. The mean dye leakage for groups using sealer was significantly different to those obturated without sealer. The sealingability of obturation techniques using sealers were significantly more than those without sealers. Conclusion: Under the condition of this in vitro study, density and apical sealing ability of these three obturation methods had no difference. However, the quality of apical seal has improved using AH26 sealer.

Statement of Problem: It has been established that successful root canal treatment depends on the quality of obturation. Deeper penetration of spreaders can improve the apical seal and the quality of the obturation.Purpose: The aim of this study was to compare the initial penetration depth of spreaders during lateral condensation of 0.04 and 0.02 tapered gutta-percha master cones.Materials and Methods: In this study, sixty two freshly extracted single canal teeth were selected. The crowns were removed and the canals were prepared using the stepback technique. Patency of the apical foramens was maintained. The teeth were divided into 2 experimental groups of 31 teeth each. 0.02 and 0.04 tapered gutta-percha were inserted in the root canals of the first and second groups, respectively. A spreader was then placed next to the master cone and a digital scale was used to measure the force that was applied during spreader placement. An apical force of 1.5kg was employed to place the spreaders. The penetration depth was measured, subtracted from the working length, and recorded. Statistical analysis was performed using t-test.Results: The mean spreader penetration depth, recorded as distance from working length, was 2.16 (1.03) mm when using 0.02 tapered master cones and 3.52 (1.88) mm following insertion of 0.04 tapered master cones. The difference between the two penetration depths was statistically significant (P<0.01).Conclusion: The results of this study showed that the spreader penetration using 0.02 tapered master cones was significantly larger than the 0.04 master cones.

Introduction: Different techniques and materials have been introduced over time to improve the quality of root canal treatment. This study aimed to compare the quality of root canal obturation using three root canal obturation techniques based on the existing void using cone beam computed tomography imaging techniques. Methods: Thirty-three single canal teeth were selected and the root canals were prepared. The roots were obturated with single-cone, lateral compaction with cold gutta-percha, and vertical compaction techniques. Afterward, the roots were scanned, and the presence of voids in the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-mm sections of the root apex was investigated, and then the area and volume of voids were calculated by Mimics 10. 01 software. Results: The highest percentage of voids presence in all groups was detected in the 7-mm section of the apex (60. 6%), while the lowest percentage was found in the 1-mm section of the apex (12. 1%). Conclusion: There was no significant difference between the three techniques evaluated in this study in terms of void size, void volume, and obturation quality. Voids were present in all samples. Considering the technique used to obturate the root canals, voids were different in terms of shape and volume.