根管糊剂在热塑载体牙胶充填法中应用评价

目的：探讨用热塑载体牙胶法充填根管时，应用根管糊剂的必要性，方法：用离体牙根管充填材料微渗漏的体外试验，比较用热塑载体牙胶加糊剂充填法与不用糊剂的热塑载体牙胶充填法的根尖封闭性能。结果：实验证明热塑载体牙胶加糊剂充填法与不用糊剂的热塑载体牙胶充填法在根尖封闭性能方面无明显差异。结论：用热塑载体牙胶充填根管时，没有用根管糊剂的必要性。     

4种根管充填技术的根尖微渗漏评价

目的采用葡萄糖定量微渗漏模型,评价不同根管充填技术封闭根尖的能力。方法选取72颗直的单根管牙,沿釉牙骨质界截冠,镍钛旋转器械进行冠向下法根管预备。随机分为4个实验组,每组15例,阳性和阴性对照组各6例。实验A组采用热牙胶垂直加压充填法,B组用固体核心载体充填法,C组用常温流动牙胶充填法,D组用冷牙胶侧压充填法进行根管充填。对照组只用牙胶尖充填,不用封闭剂。实验组和阳性对照组除根尖孔外均涂布2层指甲油,阴性对照组所有牙面均涂布2层指甲油。将牙齿连接于葡萄糖定量检测微渗漏模型,检测1、2、7、14、21、30d从冠方向根方渗漏的葡萄糖含量。通过渗漏葡萄糖的浓度（体积）推算微渗漏的大小。结果阴性对照组l～30d的渗漏值为0,阳性对照组则于ld即检测到较高浓度的葡萄糖。实验A、B、C组最大渗漏量均小于0.18μl/24h即无微渗漏发生,经秩和检验A、B、C3组间无显著差异（P〉0.05）。D组2d开始出现微渗漏,微渗漏量明显多于其它3组（P〈0.05）。结论 GuttaFlow常温流动牙胶法、热牙胶垂直加压充填法和固体核心载体充填法在观察期内,具有较好的根尖封闭能力。     

根管治疗牙冠方渗漏的研究现状

根管治疗是目前治疗牙髓病和根尖周病最有效和最根本的方法，评价其成败的关键因素是根管系统的三维严密充填，而根管充填后存在的微渗漏是导致充填失败的重要原因。根管微渗漏包括冠方渗漏和根尖渗漏，它们均可导致细菌及其产物通过冠方渗漏进入牙髓腔，又经根尖渗漏再次进入根尖周组织，引起治疗的失败。一直以来，根尖渗漏是研究的重点，而近年来，冠方渗漏也愈来愈引起广大学者的注意。本文从研究冠方渗漏的重要性、冠方渗漏的影响因素、冠方渗漏的体外实验及冠方渗漏与根尖渗漏的关系等几方面入手，对根管治疗牙冠方渗漏的研究状况作一综述。     

α和β相主牙胶尖热垂直加压根管充填的根尖微渗漏评价

目的：采用葡萄糖定量微渗漏模型评价2种主牙胶尖进行热垂直加压根管充填技术封闭根尖的能力.方法：68颗单根管牙,随机分为3个实验组和2个对照组,采用冠向下根管预备技术,实验组分别为SystemB α相主牙胶尖组、SystemB β相主牙胶尖组、冷牙胶侧压组（Cold Lateral Condensation,CLC）,每组20颗牙.各组按照要求进行根管充填后连接于葡萄糖定量检测微渗漏模型,从冠方给予1.6kPa压力,检测第1d、2d、4d、7d、10d、15d、20d、30d从冠方向根方渗漏的葡萄糖含量.通过计算渗漏葡萄糖的浓度推算微渗漏的大小.结果：阴性对照组30d的渗漏值为0,阳性对照组30 d的最大渗漏值为177.5mmol/1.SystemB α组、SystemB β组、冷侧压组三种充填材料在30d内均具有较好的根尖封闭能力.自第7d起,SystermB d组、SystemBβ组渗漏量显著少于冷侧压组（P＜0.05）,Systems组与SystemB β组之间无明显统计学差异（P＞0.05）.结论：热垂直加压根管充填技术在根尖微渗漏方面优于冷侧压根管充填技术,在30d内,两种不同相主牙胶尖的根尖微渗漏量无统计学意义.     

桩道制备后根管冠方渗漏的体外实验

目的 本实验拟用染色实验，比较根管内牙胶余留全长、3、5、7mm两周后的冠方渗漏，为探讨桩道制备后根管充填的封闭性能做一参考：方法取86颗单根离体牙，按照牙胶余留量及暂时充填材料的不同分为8组，常规根管充填并桩道预备后，用次甲基蓝进行由冠方向根方的渗漏，2周后测量渗漏深度，统计结果并加以分析。结果各组均有渗漏，其中以牙胶封闭且根管内牙胶余留3mm组的渗漏距离最大．以氧化锌水门汀封闭且未去除根管内牙胶组的渗漏距离最小。但是8组的渗漏深度差异无统计学意义（P=0．1033）。结论桩道制备会增加根管充填的冠方渗漏，而氧化锌水门汀的封闭性能较牙胶强，但在两周时间内渗漏对根尖部封闭性能影响不大．     

连续波热牙胶充填技术根尖封闭性能的评估

目的体外实验比较不同器械预备根管后连续波热牙胶根管充填技术的根尖封闭能力。方法离体双根管上颌前磨牙随机分为机用ProFile预备组和不锈钢K锉预备组,分别采用连续波热牙胶充填技术和冷侧压法进行根管充填,用染料渗透法和透明标本法测量根尖微渗漏,评价各组根尖封闭能力。结果各组根尖微渗漏距离无统计学差异(P>0.05)。结论连续波热牙胶充填技术与冷牙胶侧方加压充填技术的根尖封闭能力无显著性差异;对直根管和轻度弯曲的根管,不同器械根管预备后其根管充填效果无明显影响。     

单尖法和热牙胶法根管充填根尖封闭性能的比较研究

目的 比较3种封闭剂AH-Plus, iRoot SP和GuttaFlow2分别配合单尖法充填和热牙胶充填的根尖封闭性能。方法 选取近期拔除的70颗单根管前磨牙,截冠后采用Waveone gold系统预备至P#,随机分为6个实验组(每组10颗)和2个对照组(每组5颗)。分别行单尖法充填和热牙胶充填,即AH-Plus单尖法组(A1组),AH-Plus热牙胶组(A2组),iRoot SP单尖法组(B1组),iRoot SP热牙胶组(B2组),GuttaFlow2单尖法组(C1组),GuttaFlow2热牙胶组(C2组),阳性对照组(D组)和阴性对照组(E组)。将充填完成的牙齿进行染料渗透实验后,通过纵切片法检测根尖的微渗漏情况。结果 A1组微渗漏值最大,B2组微渗漏值最小,同种封闭剂下单尖法充填和热牙胶充填根尖封闭性差异无统计学意义(P>0.05),同种充填技术下3种封闭剂的封闭性差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。结论 3种根管封闭剂均不能完全封闭根管,单尖法充填和热牙胶充填在根尖封闭效果上无显著差异。     

ObturaⅡ热熔牙胶充填根管的微渗漏实验研究

目的：评价ObturaⅡ热熔牙胶系统充填后根尖部的微渗漏。方法：60个离体下颌第一前磨牙随机分为3组，用Profile器械预备根管至06/^#25后给予不同处理：A组用ObturaⅡ热熔牙胶系统充填；B组常规充填氧化锌丁香油糊剂加牙胶尖；C组不充填，作为阴性对照。各组牙齿在墨水中浸泡7d后，测量染色线长度，检测各级的微渗漏情况。结果：用ObturaⅡ系统充填时，热熔牙胶的根管封闭性良好。     

不同根管充填技术对椭圆形根管的根尖封闭效果

目的 探讨采用不同根管充填技术对椭圆形根管根尖封闭效果的影响.方法 选取近期拔除的椭圆形单根管前磨牙120颗随机分成6组,每组20颗,采用iRoot-SP和AH-Plus根管封闭剂,结合单尖充填法、连续波热牙胶垂直加压充填法、冷牙胶侧方加压充填法,即单尖iRoot组、热牙胶iRoot组、冷牙胶iRoot组、单尖AH组、热牙胶AH组、冷牙胶AH组,采用染料渗透法观察根尖的微渗漏情况.结果 热牙胶iRoot组、热牙胶AH组的根尖染料渗入深度明显小于单尖iRoot组、单尖AH组(P<0.05);热牙胶iRoot组、冷牙胶iRoot组尖染料渗入深度明显小于热牙胶AH组、冷牙胶AH组(P<0.05);其他的组间两两比较差异均无统计学意义(P>0.05).结论 热牙胶垂直加压技术可以使椭圆形根管达到更好的根尖封闭效果,且配合使用iRoot SP根管封闭剂的封闭效果较配合使用AH-Plus根管封闭剂好.     

GuttaFlow根管充填系统根尖封闭的微渗漏研究

目的评价GuttaFlow常温流动牙胶根管充填系统的根尖封闭性能。方法实验牙沿釉牙骨质界截冠,逐步后退法根管预备,2.5%次氯酸钠冲洗,分别以GuttaFlow常温流动牙胶和SystemB联合ObturaⅡ热牙胶充填系统充填根管。采用改良葡萄糖定量检测微渗漏模型测定第1、2、4、7、10、15、20、30d从冠方向根方渗漏的葡萄糖量。结果GuttaFlow常温流动牙胶和SystemB联合ObturaⅡ热牙胶充填系统的根尖封闭性能均较好,第7d起,GuttaFlow常温流动牙胶的封闭能力显著优于SystemB联合ObturaⅡ热牙胶充填系统(P<0.05)。结论GuttaFlow常温流动牙胶根管充填系统观察期内具有较好的根尖封闭能力。     

An assessment of microbial coronal leakage in teeth root filled with gutta-percha and three different sealers

The aim of this in vitro study was to determine the effect of three different root canal sealers on the bacterial penetration of obturated root canals. Eighty extracted human teeth with straight, single root canals were prepared using the modified double-flared technique with balanced force under copious irrigation until the master apical file was size 40. The teeth were divided randomly into experimental groups (60 teeth) and control groups (20 teeth). Twenty experimental teeth each were obturated by lateral condensation of cold gutta-percha with AH26, Apexit or Tubliseal EWT sealer. In the control groups, 10 teeth were obturated using the same technique with AH26, Apexit or Tubliseal EWT sealer. These teeth were completely sealed to serve as negative controls. The remaining 10 teeth were not obturated and served as positive controls. The root surface of each tooth, except the apical 2 mm, was sealed with nail varnish. The coronal part of each root canal was sealed with the cut end of a polypropylene tube and placed in a glass bottle containing sterile Todd-Hewitt Broth (THB). Aliquots of 0.5 ml of THB were injected into the polypropylene tube and the model system was centrifuged at 168 g. An innoculum of Streptococcus sanguis in THB was added to the tube at 5-day intervals and daily observations were made for bacterial growth in the apical reservoir for 90 days. All positive control teeth showed bacterial penetration within 24 h and negative control teeth remained uncontaminated throughout the test period. Leakage through the experimental teeth varied from 7 to 86 days. There was no statistically significant difference (P > 0.05) in leakage of the obturated canals between AH26, Apexit and Tubliseal EWT sealers.     

An in vitro study of the coronal leakage of two root canal sealers using an obligate anaerobe microbial marker

The aim of this in vitro study was to investigate the coronal leakage of obligate anaerobes into root canals obturated with lateral condensation of cold guttapercha with two root canal sealers. Sixty extracted human teeth with straight, single root canals were prepared using the modified double-flared technique with balanced force under copious irrigation until the master apical file was size 40. The teeth were divided randomly into experimental groups (40 teeth) and control groups (20 teeth). In the experimental groups, 20 teeth were obturated with lateral condensation of cold gutta-percha and AH26 sealer and 20 teeth were obturated with the same technique using TubliSeal EWT sealer. In the control groups, 10 teeth were obturated with the same technique either with AH26 or TubliSeal EWT sealer. These teeth were completely sealed to serve as negative controls. The remaining 10 teeth were not obturated and served as positive controls. The root surface of each tooth was sealed with nail varnish except the apical 2 mm. The coronal part of each root canal was sealed with the cut end of polypropylene tube and placed in a glass bottle containing sterile Fastidious Anaerobe Broth (FAB). Aliquots of 0.5 mL of FAB were injected into the polypropylene tube and the model system was centrifuged at 168 g. An inoculum of Fusobacterium nucleatum in FAB was placed in each coronal chamber at 7-day intervals and daily observations were made for bacterial growth in the apical reservoir for 12 weeks. All positive control teeth showed bacterial leakage within a week, while the negative control teeth remained uncon-taminated throughout the test period. All the experimental teeth exhibited leakage of bacterial metabolites within 12 weeks, ranging from 1 to 12 weeks. The mean time for complete leakage in the AH26 and the TubliSeal EWT groups was 8.4 and 8.2 weeks respectively. There was no statistically significant difference (P > 0.05) in leakage between the AH26 and the TubliSeal EWT groups.     

The effect of smear layer on microbial coronal leakage of gutta-percha root fillings

The aim of this in vitro study was to determine the effect of removal of the smear layer on canal obturation as measured by penetration of bacteria from a coronal direction. One hundred and twenty extracted human teeth with straight, single root canals were decoronated. The canals were prepared using the modified double-flared technique with balanced force under copious irrigation. The apical matrix was prepared to size 40 and apical patency subsequently confirmed with a size 15 file. The teeth were divided randomly into experimental groups (80 teeth) and control groups (40 teeth). The root canals of 40 experimental and 20 control teeth were rinsed with 40% citric acid and 2% NaOCl to remove the smear layer before obturation. In experimental groups, 20 teeth with smear layer intact and 20 teeth with smear layer removed were obturated with lateral condensation of cold gutta-percha and Apexit sealer. A further 20 teeth with smear layer intact and 20 teeth with smear layer removed were obturated with the Trifecta technique with the same sealer. In control groups, 10 teeth with smear layer intact and 10 teeth with smear layer removed were obturated with lateral condensation of cold gutta-percha and Apexit sealer. These teeth were completely sealed both coronally and apically to serve as negative controls. The remaining 20 teeth with either smear layer intact or smear layer removed were not obturated and served as the positive controls. The root surface of each tooth was sealed with nail varnish. The cut end of a polypropylene tube was sealed around the coronal part of each root canal so that bacteria placed therein could move only through the obturated canal space. Each root was placed in a glass bottle containing sterile Todd-Hewitt Broth (THB) and aliquots of 0.5 ml of THB were injected into the polypropylene tube. The model system was centrifuged at 168 g. An innoculum of Streptococcus sanguis in THB was placed in each coronal chamber at 5-day intervals and daily observations were made for bacterial growth in the apical reservoir for 90 days. All positive control teeth showed bacterial penetration within 24 h, while the negative control teeth remained uncon-taminated throughout the test period. Leakage through the experimental teeth was variable ranging from 7 to 86 days. There was no statistical significant difference (P > 0.05) in leakage between the obturated canal when the smear layer was either removed or intact.     

Residue of gutta-percha and a glass ionomer cement sealer following root canal retreatment

A previous report indicates that root canals obturated with a new glass ionomer cement endodontic sealer (Ketac-Endo, Espe, Germany) and laterally condensed gutta-percha can be retreated by ultrasonic instrumentation. To address the possibility of Ketac-Endo being used without condensation of gutta-percha, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of ultrasonic retreatment in canals obturated with single-cone gutta-percha and Ketac-Endo. Thirty root canals were prepared in a standardized way to ISO size 40 and obturated with gutta-percha and Ketac-Endo. Either a size 40 gutta-percha cone was used with and without lateral condensation, or a size 25 single cone, without condensation. After 14 days, the canals were retreated using chloroform and ultrasonic instrumentation. The roots were split vertically, and the amount of residual debris on the canal walls was assessed by three examiners using a dissecting microscope. Debris was recorded in the apical, middle and coronal canal levels according to a preset evaluation scale. The mean scores for each group were compared by ANOVA and Mann-Whitney U-test, with a 5% level of significance. In the roots obturated with lateral condensation the amount of residual debris in the coronal and middle canal levels was lower than in the other two groups, whereas in the apical level it was higher. Statistically, only the differences in the apical level were significant (P < 0.03). It was concluded that ultrasonic retreatment may be performed effectively in root canals obturated with single-cone gutta-percha and Ketac-Endo.     

Evaluation of the Trifecta obturating technique

The aim of this project was to evaluate and compare the radiographic quality and sealability of root fillings in extracted human teeth using lateral condensation of gutta-percha or the Trifecta obturating system. One hundred freshly extracted human mature, single-rooted teeth were divided into four identical groups of 25 teeth on the basis of root canal shape. The root canals of two groups were prepared in such a way as to produce a relatively parallel canal shape with little or no flare towards the coronal orifice. The root canals of the other two groups were prepared in such a way as to produce a canal shape that was deliberately more flared to ensure that they were wider at the orifice than at the endpoint of the preparation. All root canals were flushed with 17% EDTA solution and 2.5% NaOCl to remove the dentinal smear layer. The canals of one flared and one parallel group were obturated using cold lateral condensation and the canals of the other two groups were obturated using the Trifecta system. The sealability of each technique was assessed by a dye penetration method. The radiographic quality of obturation was determined for each canal using a 4-point scale. Canals filled with thermoplasticised gutta-percha had significantly less apical dye penetration than those obturated by lateral condensation (P < 0.001). Lateral condensation achieved significantly better scores for radiographic quality than thermoplasticised gutta-percha from both the bucco-lingual (P < 0.001) and the mesio-distal views (P < 0.001). Root canals obturated using the Trifecta technique showed significantly more apical extrusion of sealer than those obturated by lateral condensation (P < 0.001). Under laboratory conditions the Trifecta technique had better sealability but poorer radiographic quality than lateral condensation.     

Polymicrobial coronal leakage of super EBA root-end fillings following two methods of root-end preparation

The aim of this study was to compose in vitro coronal leakage of a super EBA root-end filling material after two root-end cavity preparation techniques. A mixed anaerobic microbial marker was used. Forty-five extracted human teeth with straight, single root canals were prepared chemo-mechanically to a size 40 master apical file. The teeth were divided into experimental groups (35 teeth) and control groups (10 teeth). Forty teeth (35 experimental teeth and five negative control teeth) were obturated by lateral condensation of cold gutta-percha with Tubliseal EWT sealer. The remaining five teeth were not obturated and served as positive controls. These teeth were stored for 6 months in artificial saliva. The apical 3-4 mm of each root was resected perpendicular to the long axis of the root and a root-end cavity prepared to a depth of 3 mm using either a size 008 rosehead burr or an ultrasonic retroprep tip. Freshly mixed EBA cement was placed into the root-end cavity. The entire root surface of each tooth, except the cutting surface of the apical end, was sealed with nail varnish. The coronal part of each root canal was sealed with the cut end of a tube and placed in a bottle containing sterile Brain Heart Infusion Broth (BHIB). A marker consisting of Anaerobic streptococci and Fusobacterium nucleatum in BHIB was placed in each coronal chamber at 7-day intervals and daily observations were made for bacterial growth in the apical chamber for 60 days. All positive control teeth exhibited bacterial leakage within 48 h, whilst the apical chamber of negative control teeth remained uncontaminated throughout the test period. Fifty-nine percent ( n = 10) of the specimens prepared with a burr showed leakage after 90 days, whilst only 22% ( n = 4) of the ultrasonically prepared group showed leakage after the same time. The group prepared with ultrasonic tips showed statistically significant less specimens with leakage ( P < 0.05) than the group prepared with burrs.     

In vitro endotoxin penetration of coronally unsealed endodontically treated teeth

Abstract The purpose of the study was to evaluate the penetration of bacterial endotoxin (L.P.S.) through obturated root canals. Twenty-four single-rooted teeth were instrumented in a uniform manner. The root canals of 16 teeth were obturated with gutta-percha and Roth's sealer and 8 teeth were similarly obturated but without sealer. The teeth were then divided into three groups. Group 1 – Positive control (4 teeth). Teeth obturated without sealer were used. Sticky wax was softened in an open flame and painted over the external root surface except the apical 2 mm and coronal canal orifice which were left free of the sticky wax. Group 2 – Negative control (4 teeth). Again teeth without sealer comprised the teeth in this group. However, in this group the sticky wax covered the apical area of the root and the canal orifice coronally, in addition to the rest of the root. Group 3 – Experimental (16 teeth). The teeth obturated in conjunction with sealer were used. Otherwise the teeth were treated as in group 1. The coronal root half was then hermetically sealed from the apical root half so that LPS placed coronally could move only through the obturated canal space to the apical segment. One ml of water containing 100 μg/ml endotoxin was placed in the upper chambers and pyrogen-free water in the lower chambers. The upper and lower chambers were then tested for endotoxin at different time periods up to 21 days. The upper chambers tested positive for endotoxin at all test times for all teeth. All 4 positive control teeth showed endotoxin in the lower chambers by 24 hrs. None of the 4 negative control teeth showed endotoxin in the lower chambers for the duration of the study. Five of the 16 (31.5%) experimental teeth had demonstrable L.P.S. in the lower chambers by the end of the 21 day test period. According to the results of this study, endotoxin may move through obturated root canals.     

An evaluation of microbial leakage after using MTAD as a final irrigation

Cleaning the root canal is not possible without using proper irrigation. The aim of this in vitro study was to evaluate the effect of MTAD as a final irrigant on bacterial leakage of the root canal, and its interaction with two conventional root canal sealers. We used 132 extracted human maxillary anterior teeth. The teeth were randomly divided into three experimental groups (n=40) and two groups (n=6) of positive and negative control. In group 1, the smear layer was not removed and irrigation was performed using 5.25% NaOCl. In group 2, the smear layer was removed using EDTA, and in group 3, the smear layer was removed using MTAD according to the clinical protocol of use. The teeth in each group were obturated with gutta-percha and AH-Plus or Rickert sealer. The coronal portion of each root was placed in contact with inoculum of Streptococcus mutans in Brain Heart Infusion (BHI) culture media. Each root tip was placed in one bottle containing sterile BHI. Mean duration of bacterial penetration in groups 2 and 3 was significantly greater than in group 1, but there was no significant difference between groups 2 and 3. According to our findings, it takes longer for bacteria to penetrate when either EDTA or MTAD is used for smear layer removal. The root canals obturated with AH Plus showed significantly longer duration of resistance to bacterial penetration than canals obturated with Rickert.     

Fluid transport and bacterial penetration along root canal fillings

Convective transport of water from the coronal to the apical end of obturated root canals was determined by the movement of an air bubble in a capillary glass tube connected to the apex of the experimental root section using a headspace pressure of 120 kPa (1.2 atm). Water transport through existing voids in the obturated canals could be measured reproducibly in this way. The root canals of 60 human maxillary canines were filled with gutta-percha and sealer by the cold lateral condensation technique. Thirty of these were first exposed to a small motile bacterium, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, growing in a reservoir at the coronal end of each root. After 50 days, two specimens allowed penetration of bacteria to a reservoir at the apical end. All the roots were then assessed quantitatively for convective transport of water. The results were divided into three defined categories: 39 obturated canals were in the‘bacteria tight’category, 14 canals in the 'slight leakage’and 7 canals in the‘gross leakage’category. The two specimens that showed bacterial penetration fell into the slight and gross leakage categories. The previous test for bacterial passage did not statistically influence the fluid transport pattern of these roots which was measured subsequently. These findings indicate that fluids transport through obturated root canals, most of which do not allow the passage of bacteria.     

Comparison of laterally condensed and low-temperature thermoplasticized gutta-percha root fillings

The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the radiographic quality and sealability of root fillings in extracted human teeth using lateral condensation of gutta-percha or low-temperature thermoplasticized gutta-percha (Ultrafil). One hundred freshly extracted human, mature single-rooted teeth were divided into four identical groups of 25 teeth on the basis of root canal shape. The root canals of two groups were prepared in such a way to produce a relatively parallel shape with little or no flare toward the coronal orifice. The root canals of the other two groups were prepared in such a way as to produce a canal shape that was deliberately more flared to ensure that they were wider at the orifice than at the end point of the preparation. All root canals were flushed with 17% EDTA solution and 2.5% NaOCl to remove the dentinal smear layer. The canals of one flared group and one parallel group were obturated using cold lateral condensation, and the canals of the other two groups were obturated using low-temperature thermoplasticized gutta-percha. The sealability of each technique was assessed by a dye penetration method. The radiographic quality of obturation was determined for each canal using a 4-point scale. Canals filled with thermoplasticized gutta-percha had significantly less apical dye penetration than those obturated by lateral condensation (p < 0.001). Lateral condensation achieved significantly better scores for radiographic quality than thermoplasticized gutta-percha from both the buccolingual (p < 0.005) and mesiodistal views (p < 0.001). Low-temperature thermoplasticized gutta-percha root fillings were associated with significantly more apical extrusion of sealer (p < 0.001) and gutta-percha (p < 0.005). Under laboratory conditions the low-temperature thermoplasticized gutta-percha had better sealability but poorer radiographic quality than lateral condensation.