Effect of Obturation Techniques on the Quality of Root Canal Fillings: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of in Vitro Studies.

Introduction: The current study aimed to compare the quality of root canal obturation performed with cold lateral condensation with other obturation techniques. Materials and Methods: Diverse Search was conducted using six electronic/academic databases following PICOS (i.e. population, intervention, control, outcomes, and study design) strategy: (P) Extracted mature permanent teeth; (I) Obturation techniques except for cold lateral condensation; (C) Cold lateral condensation tyechnique; (O) Quality of root canal obturation; and (S) In vitro studies assessing parameters using micro-computed tomography. The statistical method used for the meta-analyses was the "inverse variance DerSimonian-Laird test". The heterogeneity data was calculated using the T2, Cochran Q test, and I2 statistics. Results: Fifteen studies were included for the final analysis; one had a low risk of bias, eight a moderate risk, and six a high risk of bias. Ten studies were selected for meta-analyses; three studies comparing cold lateral condensation with carrier-based gutta-percha techniques [P=0.96; mean difference (MD)=-0.02; confidence interval (CI): (-0.77, 0.73); I2=21%]; three comparing cold lateral condensation with single-cone techniques [P=0.75; MD=-0.39; CI: (-2.77, 1.99); I2=92%]; two comparing cold lateral condensation and thermo-plasticized injectable techniques [P=0.37; MD=5.91; CI: (-7.13,18.94); I2=99%]; and five comparing cold lateral condensation with warm vertical condensation techniques [P<0.0001; MD=5.29; CI=(2.84, 7.74); I2=92%]. The overall effect reported significant results [P=0.0003; MD=2.69; CI=(1.23, 4.16); I2=96%]; favoring fewer voids and gaps for the other used obturation techniques. Conclusions: Cold lateral condensation and single-cone techniques presented no statistical differences. Nonetheless, Warm vertical condensation technique had better results compared to cold lateral condensation.

DOES THE ACTIVATION OF ROOT CANAL DRESSINGS IMPROVE THEIR FILLING QUALITY ON TEETH WITH SIMULATED INTERNAL ROOT RESORPTION?

This study aims to evaluate, by micro-computed tomography, the filling capacity of two root canal dressings (RCD) - Bio-C Temp and Ultracal - after different activation protocols in teeth with simulated internal root resorption. Eighty single-rooted bovine teeth were sectioned in the cervical portion, standardizing the roots at 16 mm. Then, the canals were prepared by the apex-crown technique until instrument #80 using 2mL of 2.5% sodium hypochlorite solution at each instrument change. Afterward, the roots were sectioned longitudinally, and internal root resorptions were simulated using a diamond bur 1016 at 5 mm from the root apex. Hemiroots were joined and fixed with cyanoacrylate, scanned in micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) to assess total canal volume and simulated internal resorption, and then divided by stratified randomization into experimental groups according to RCD and method of activation (n = 10): Ultracal/Syringe; Ultracal/PUI, Ultracal/XP Endo Finisher, Ultracal Easy Clean, Bio-C Temp/Syringe, Bio-C Temp/PUI, Bio-C Temp/XP Endo Finisher and Bio-C/Easy Clean. Another scanning was performed to assess the volume of voids after RCD activation methods. The ANOVA and Tukey tests compared the activation methods. Student's T-test compared the RCDs within each activation method. Initial root canal volume values were similar for all groups (P > 0.05). There was no difference between activation protocols (P > 0.05). Higher volumes of void spaces were observed for Bio-C Temp compared to Ultracal after all activation methods (P < 0.05), except for Easy Clean (P > 0.05). Due to this, it can be concluded that the agitation methods tested for the Bio-C Temp and Ultracal pastes did not improve the filling of bovine teeth with simulated internal root resorption.

DOES THE ACTIVATION OF ROOT CANAL DRESSINGS IMPROVE THEIR FILLING QUALITY ON TEETH WITH SIMULATED INTERNAL ROOT RESORPTION?

Aims: This study aims to evaluate, by micro-computed tomography, the filling capacity of two root canal dressings (RCD) -Bio-C Temp and Ultracal -after different activation protocols in teeth with simulated internal root resorption.Materials and methods: Eighty single-rooted bovine teeth were sectioned in the cervical portion, standardizing the roots at 16 mm. Then, the canals were prepared by the apex-crown technique until instrument #80 using 2mL of 2.5% sodium hypochlorite solution at each instrument change. Afterward, the roots were sectioned longitudinally, and internal root resorptions were simulated using a diamond bur 1016 at 5 mm from the root apex. Hemiroots were joined and fixed with cyanoacrylate, scanned in micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) to assess total canal volume and simulated internal resorption, and then divided by stratified randomization into experimental groups according to RCD and method of activation (n = 10): Ultracal/Syringe; Ultracal/PUI, Ultracal/XP Endo Finisher, Ultracal Easy Clean, Bio-C Temp/Syringe, Bio-C Temp/PUI, Bio-C Temp/XP Endo Finisher and Bio-C/Easy Clean. Another scanning was performed to assess the volume of voids after RCD activation methods. The ANOVA and Tukey tests compared the activation methods. Student's T-test compared the RCDs within each activation method. Initial root canal volume values were similar for all groups (P > 0.05).Results:There was no difference between activation protocols (P > 0.05). Higher volumes of void spaces were observed for Bio-C Temp compared to Ultracal after all activation methods (P < 0.05), except for Easy Clean (P > 0.05).Conclusion:It can be concluded that the agitation methods tested for the Bio-C Temp and Ultracal pastes did not improve the filling of bovine teeth with simulated internal root resorption.

DOES THE ACTIVATION OF ROOT CANAL DRESSINGS IMPROVE THEIR FILLING QUALITY ON TEETH WITH SIMULATED INTERNAL ROOT RESORPTION?

Aims: This study aims to evaluate, by micro-computed tomography, the filling capacity of two root canal dressings (RCD) -Bio-C Temp and Ultracal -after different activation protocols in teeth with simulated internal root resorption.Materials and methods: Eighty single-rooted bovine teeth were sectioned in the cervical portion, standardizing the roots at 16 mm. Then, the canals were prepared by the apex-crown technique until instrument #80 using 2mL of 2.5% sodium hypochlorite solution at each instrument change. Afterward, the roots were sectioned longitudinally, and internal root resorptions were simulated using a diamond bur 1016 at 5 mm from the root apex. Hemiroots were joined and fixed with cyanoacrylate, scanned in micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) to assess total canal volume and simulated internal resorption, and then divided by stratified randomization into experimental groups according to RCD and method of activation (n = 10): Ultracal/Syringe; Ultracal/PUI, Ultracal/XP Endo Finisher, Ultracal Easy Clean, Bio-C Temp/Syringe, Bio-C Temp/PUI, Bio-C Temp/XP Endo Finisher and Bio-C/Easy Clean. Another scanning was performed to assess the volume of voids after RCD activation methods. The ANOVA and Tukey tests compared the activation methods. Student's T-test compared the RCDs within each activation method. Initial root canal volume values were similar for all groups (P > 0.05).Results:There was no difference between activation protocols (P > 0.05). Higher volumes of void spaces were observed for Bio-C Temp compared to Ultracal after all activation methods (P < 0.05), except for Easy Clean (P > 0.05).Conclusion:It can be concluded that the agitation methods tested for the Bio-C Temp and Ultracal pastes did not improve the filling of bovine teeth with simulated internal root resorption