The sealing ability of the Thermafil obturation technique

Forty straight canals of maxillary canines and 40 curved canals in 20 mesial roots of mandibular molars were instrumented and randomly assigned to two groups of 40 canals each. For the experimental group, the canals were obturated using the Thermafil obturation technique. Lateral condensation was used for the obturation of the control group. Kerr pulp canal sealer was used in both group. The specimens were stored in 100% humidity for 1 wk. All teeth were suspended in black India ink for 14 days and decalcified in 5% nitric acid over a 2-day period. The teeth were then dehydrated in a graded series of alcohol to 100%. Methyl salycilate was used to clear and store the teeth for 48 h. Linear dye leakage measurements showed that canines obturated with the lateral condensation technique leaked significantly less than those obturated using the Thermafil technique (p = 0.02). The difference was not statistically significant in the molar roots.