Analysis of the gutta-percha filled area in C-shaped mandibular molars obturated with a modified MicroSeal technique.

ABSTRACT

AIM: To analyse the gutta-percha filled area of C-shaped molar teeth root filled with the modified MicroSeal technique with reference to the radiographic features and the C-shaped canal configuration. METHODOLOGY: Twenty-three mandibular second molar teeth with C-shaped roots were classified according to their radiographic features as type I--merging, type II--symmetrical and type III--asymmetrical. The canals were root filled using a modified technique of the MicroSeal system. Horizontal sections at intervals of 600 mum were made 1 mm from the apex to the subpulpal floor level. The percentage of gutta-percha area from the apical, middle and coronal levels of the radiographic types was analysed using the Kruskal-Wallis test. Complementary analysis of the C-shaped canal configurations (C1, C2 and C3) determined from cross-sections from the apical third was performed in a similar way. RESULTS: No significant differences were found between the radiographic types in terms of the percentage of gutta-percha area at any level (P > 0.05) apical third, type I 77.04%, II 70.48% and III 77.13%, middle third, type I 95.72%, II 93.17%, III 91.13% and coronal level, type I 98.30%, II 98.25%, III 97.14%. Overall, the percentage of the filling material was lower in the apical third (P < 0.05). No significant differences were found between the C-shaped canal configurations apically; C1 72.64%, C2 79.62%, C3 73.51% (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The percentage of area filled with gutta-percha was similar in the three radiographic types and canal configuration categories of C-shaped molars. These results show the difficulty of achieving predictable filling of the root canal system when this anatomical variation exists. In general, the apical third was less completely filled.