Comparative Evaluation of Gutta Percha Sealing Ability at the Apical 3rd Using Two Different Core Based Thermal Obturation Systems

3Dimensional obturation is a very important contributor towards the success of endodontic therapy. Thermal obturating techniques are gaining wide acceptance to obtain 3D seal. Of these, carrier based obturation techniques appear to be easier and provide good sealing ability and are less time consuming. The question arises whether these carrier based obturators are effective in providing gutta percha seal at the apical 3rd in curved canals or does the plastic carrier get exposed. So the aim of this study was to compare effective gutta percha sealing ability by using two different core based thermal obturation system i.e. Thermafil and Soft Core obturations systems. A total of 30 maxillary molars were collected and canals were prepared using ProTaper (Dentsply, Maillefer) in a crown down manner. The teeth were randomly divided into two groups. The teeth were obturated as follows: Groups 1 with Thermafil (Dentsply, Tulsa), Groups 2 with Soft Core (Soft Core System, Copenhagen, Denmark) and then the samples were sectioned at 1, 3 & 5mm apically by a low speed diamond disk and evaluated under stereomicroscope. The results revealed that none of the carrier based systems showed good sealing ability at the apical 3rd but Thermafil showed lesser exposure of the carrier than the Soft Core. Hence, this was concluded that both the systems did not show absolute ability to seal the apical third with gutta percha.