Evaluation of the quality of three canal obturation techniques: A laboratory study

Introduction: The aim of the present study was to compare the filling capacity of cold lateral condensation, warm vertical condensation and Thermafil® in severely curved canals of extracted human molars. Material and Methods: Mesiobuccal (MB) canals of 90 mandibular molars with angles of curvature ranging between 25° and 35° and radius of 5 to 9 mm curvature were divided into three groups (n=30 each). In each group, canals were instrumented with ProTaper® and obturated either by cold lateral condensation (L), warm vertical condensation (V) or Thermafil® (T). The limit was considered adequate (0-2 mm to the radiologic apex), or with over-obturation or with over-extension. The presence of voids and their location in the canal was also explored and the density was evaluated. Data were analyzed using the Kruskal Wallis test. Differences were significant with a two-sided ?<0> Results: The majority of obturations with adequate limit was from group V (66.8%). Group T displayed the highest proportion of over obturation (46.7%) and group L the highest proportion of over-extension (33.3%) (P < 0> Conclusion: Warm vertical condensation and Thermafil® techniques give the best results for the obturation of curved canals in respect to limit and density.