Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2014 Nov 20;5(3):91-7.
eCollection 2014 Jul.

Root canal obturation: experimental study on the thermafil system related to different irrigation protocols

Guido Migliau  1 , Afrah Ali Abdullah Sofan  1 , Eshrak Ali Abdullah Sofan  1 , Salvatore Cosma  2 , Stefano Eramo  2 , Livio Gallottini  1
Affiliations

Root canal obturation: experimental study on the thermafil system related to different irrigation protocols

Guido Migliau et al. Ann Stomatol (Roma). .

Abstract

Aim: The aim of this study was to stress the ability of a specific obturation technique (thermafil technique) to seal root canal system in presence or absence of smear layer.

Methodology: Sixteen monoradicular teeth, extracted for periodontal reasons, were collected for this study. All specimens were prepared with nickel-titanium rotary files, and then divided into two groups: for each group was applied a different kind of irrigation method, verifying the effectiveness in removing the smear layer, thus rendering the dentinal tubules more permeable for penetration of softened gutta-percha. Thermafil system was used to fill the root canals, and then all the specimens were observed under scanning electron microscope (SEM).

Results: The results showed that the Group which followed irrigation only with sodium hypochlorite exhibited significantly less gutta-percha tags when compared to the second Group, which was irrigated with sodium hypochlorite and EDTA.

Conclusion: The thermafil systems have a very good quality of compression and fluency that permit to gain a good seal of endodontic space; furthermore it allows the penetration of gutta-percha with the formation of numerous of gutta-percha tags inside the dentinal tubules above all when smear layer is reduced or eliminated.

Keywords: EDTA (Ethylene diaminetetraacetic acid); dentinal tubules; gutta-percha tags; smear layer; sodium hypochlorite; thermafil.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Thermafil obturation of the specimens.
Figure 2
Figure 2
X-ray of a specimen.
Figure 3
Figure 3
The teeth were immersed in hydrochloric acid 15% to obtain the dissolution of inorganic part.
Figure 4
Figure 4
(SEM, 1000 x) Gutta-percha in the coronal third of canal (only Naocl).
Figure 5
Figure 5
(SEM, 1000 x) Gutta-percha in middle third of canal (only Naocl).
Figure 6
Figure 6
(SEM, 1000 x) Gutta-percha in apical third of canal (only Naocl).
Figure 7
Figure 7
(SEM, 1000 x) Gutta-percha in the coronal third of canal (Naocl+EDTA).
Figure 8
Figure 8
(SEM, 1000 x) Gutta-percha in the middle third of canal (Naocl+EDTA).
Figure 9
Figure 9
(SEM, 5000 x) Gutta-percha in the apical third of canal (Naocl +EDTA).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Similar articles

See all similar articles

Cited by

References

    1. Stoll R, Betke K, Stachniss V. The influence of different factors on the survival of root canal fillings: a 10-year retrospective study. J Endod. 2005;31:783–90. - PubMed
    1. Kytridou V, Gutmann JL, Nunn MH. Adaptation and seal ability of two contemporary obturation techniques in the absence of the dentinal smear layer. Int Endo J. 1999;32:464–474. - PubMed
    1. Naidorf IJ. Clinical microbiology in endodontics. Dent Clin North Am. 1974;18:329–44. - PubMed
    1. Saunders WP, Saunders EM. Influence of smear layer and the coronal leakage of thermafil and laterally condensed gutta percha root fillings with a glass ionomer sealer. J Endod. 1994;20:155–8. - PubMed
    1. Yoshida M, Fukushima H, Yamamoto K, Ogawa K, Toda T, Sagawa H. Correlation between clinical symptoms and microorganisms isolated from root canals of teeth with periapical pathosis. J Endod. 1987;13:24–8. - PubMed

LinkOut - more resources