Influence of spatulation time upon the radio-graphic homogeneity of Adaptic Radiopaque® fillings

Abstract— Twelve test cavities were filled with Adaptic Radiopaque by die author, varying the spatulation times from 5 s to 60 s at 5-s intervals but using the same mixing technique. Fillings spatulated for less than 20 s appeared inhornogeneous on radiographs. 2) Twenty-eight dentists produced 84 test fillings determining themselves their spatulation time and applying their own mixing technique. Spatulation times varied! froira 10 to 35 s. The fillings were radiographed under standardized conditions. Twenty-five were classified as radio graphically homogeneous, 35 as partly iniiomogeneous, and 24 as inhomogeneous. Short spatulation times were correlated with a high frequency ofinhomogeiieous fillings. Only 15% of fillings spatula ted for less than 30 s were radiographically homogeneous. The observed inhomogeneities imply a risk of false positive diagnoses of secondary carious lesions.