An Evaluation of GuttaFlow and Gutta-Percha in the Filling of Lateral Grooves and Depressions

doi:10.1016/j.joen.2007.12.004

Journal of Endodontics

Volume 34, Issue 3, March 2008, Pages 295-298

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joen.2007.12.004 Get rights and content

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to compare the flow of GuttaFlow (Coltène/Whaledent Inc, Cuyahoga Falls, OH) and gutta-percha into lateral grooves and depressions in the apical 7 mm of the root canal system. A maxillary canine was used to fabricate a split-tooth model with depressions and lateral grooves placed in the canal walls at 1 mm, 3 mm, 5 mm, and 7 mm from the working length. The model was obturated with GuttaFlow or gutta-percha and Roth’s 801 sealer (Roth International, Chicago, IL). Obturations with gutta-percha were performed by using warm vertical compaction with the System B plugger (Analytic Endodontics, Orange, CA) advanced to 5 mm, 4 mm, or 3 mm from the working length. All obturations with GuttaFlow showed extrusion of material beyond the apex. GuttaFlow completely obturated the grooves and depressions at all levels from the working length, and, at the 1-mm level, GuttaFlow flowed significantly better into grooves. GuttaFlow flowed better than gutta-percha into depressions at the 1-mm level when the System B plugger was inserted to 5 mm and 4 mm from the working length, but no significant differences were seen when the System B plugger was inserted to 3 mm from the working length. Gutta-percha flowed significantly better into grooves and depressions at the 1-mm level when the System B plugger was inserted 3 mm from the working length compared with 5 mm and 4 mm from working length.

Section snippets

Materials and Methods

An extracted human maxillary canine with a single, straight canal was used to make a split-tooth model as previously described (8). The apex was prepared to a .04 taper size #40 at the working length (WL).

The split-tooth model was conditioned in an incubator at 37°C with 100% humidity at all times between obturations. Four experimental groups were included: (1) group 1 = GF − GuttaFlow; (2) group 2 = GP5 − gutta-percha, System B plugger (Analytic Endodontics, Orange, CA) inserted to 5 mm from

Results

Results for the flow of GuttaFlow and gutta-percha into depressions and lateral grooves at 1 mm, 3 mm, 5 mm, and 7 mm from the WL are presented in TABLE 1, TABLE 2, respectively. Representative obturations for GuttaFlow and gutta-percha (System B plugger insertion to 3 mm from the WL) are shown in Figure 1.

Extrusion of GuttaFlow occurred with all obturations. No extrusion of gutta-percha or sealer was seen for any of the gutta-percha experimental groups. GuttaFlow had significantly better flow

Discussion

The purpose of this ex vivo study was to compare the flow of GuttaFlow and gutta-percha into depressions and lateral grooves in the apical half of a split-tooth model. The use of the same split-tooth model for all obturations and monitoring of material placement and compaction forces ensured standardization of each obturation among the four experimental groups. Clinical conditions of temperature and humidity were maintained throughout the experiment.

GuttaFlow flowed into all depressions and

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank Coltène/Whaledent Inc and Obtura Spartan for donating the GuttaFlow and gutta-percha pellets that were used in this study. The authors would also like to thank Dr Dave Phillips for providing support with statistical analysis.

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Basic research—technologyAn Evaluation of GuttaFlow and Gutta-Percha in the Filling of Lateral Grooves and Depressions

Abstract

Section snippets

Materials and Methods

Results

Discussion

Acknowledgments

Dent Clin North Am

Oral Surg

J Endod

J Endod

J Endod

J Endod

J Endod

J Endod

J Endod

J Endod

Basic research—technology
An Evaluation of GuttaFlow and Gutta-Percha in the Filling of Lateral Grooves and Depressions