INTRODUCTION The purpose of this study was to evaluate the morphologic surface of gutta-percha cones after cutting with different methods. MATERIALS AND METHODS The apical 3 millimeters of forty standardized, gutta-percha cones size 40 were cut off using scissors or a scalpel against a glass slab. The samples were then examined under scanning electron microscopy (SEM) for topographic deformit...

OBJECTIVES To compare the mechanical properties of Resilon and gutta-percha cones after storing at three different temperatures. MATERIALS AND METHODS One-hundred standardized size 40/02 gutta-percha cones and 100 Resilon cones were randomly divided into four groups. The first group of the materials were tested immediately after receipt as the control group. The other three were stored in the...

OBJECTIVE To determine the percent gutta-percha-filled area in the apical third of root canals after filling with 2 different root filling techniques. MATERIALS AND METHODS Thirty extracted human lower premolars were instrumented with ProTaper rotary files (Dentsply Maillefer) and then randomly divided into 2 groups of 15 teeth each. The first group was filled using the single-cone technique ...

Controversy remains regarding the relative toxicity versus inertness of endodontic filling materials, including gutta-percha, in vital tissues.We discuss reaction to and possible toxicity of gutta-percha and sealers and present 2 cases of symptomatic chronic inflammatory reaction where gutta-percha and associated filling materials were found to have extruded past the confinement of the root str...

The aim of this study was to evaluate the solubility of gutta-percha in four organic solvents used in endodontics. The solubility of gutta-percha (Dentsply) was assessed in xylol, orange oil, eucalyptol, chloroform and distilled water. A hundred and fifty samples of gutta-percha were prepared using a standardized stainless steel mould and divided into five groups for immersion in the different ...

PURPOSE The aim of this study was to compare the cleanliness of root canal walls after retreatment using ProTaper Next (PTN), ProTaper Universal Retreatment (PTR) nickel-titanium (NiTi) systems and Hedström hand files in curved mesial canals of mandibular molar teeth and the time required for gutta-percha and sealer removal. MATERIALS AND METHODS Ninety mandibular molar teeth with curved mesi...

BACKGROUND Several techniques have been proposed for root canal filling. New rotary files, with non-standardized taper, are appearing, so, points adapted to the taper of the last instrument used to prepare the canal can help in the obturation process. The aim of this study is to assess the sealing ability of different root canal filling techniques. MATERIAL AND METHODS Root canals from 30 tee...

Sample wafers of compounded dental gutta-percha and uncompounded dental-grade gutta-percha were compression tested to 20,000 pounds in uniaxial and triaxial systerns. Unrestrained flow in the uniaxial series prevented development of stress levels sufficient to produce molecular compression. Negligible molecular compression did occur in the triaxial series but only above a stress level of approx...

Persistent microorganisms in the root canal are known to cause endodontic treatments failure. Overextended gutta-percha can also act as a periradicular tissue irritant, leading to large periapical lesions. Retrieval of overextended gutta-percha with a nonsurgical approach can prove to be a challenge. This case describes the nonsurgical management of a large periapical lesion associated with ove...