Percentage of Gutta-percha-filled Areas in Canals Instrumented with Nickel-Titanium Systems and Obturated with Matching Single Cones

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to compare different single-cone obturation techniques in terms of the percentage of gutta-percha filled areas (PGFA), sealer-filled areas (PSFA), and voids. Methods: Sixty extracted mandibular incisors with straight canals were allocated into 6 groups: (A) FlexMaster, (B) Mtwo, (C) ProTaper, (D) Reciproc, (E) WaveOne, and (F) control. In groups A E, obturation was performed by using matching single-cone gutta-percha. In group F,(control), manual instrumentation and obturation were performed by using cold lateral compaction with standardized gutta-percha cones. The teeth were sectioned at 2, 4, 6, and 8 mm from the apex. The total area of each canal segment was measured, and the areas were converted to PGFA, PSFA, and percentage of voids. Data were subjected to the Kruskal-Wallis and post hoc Dunn test. Results: At the 2-mm level, group B produced significantly higher PGFA than all other groups, whereas group B produced significantly higher PGFA than groups C, D, and E (P < .05). At the 4-mm level, groups A and B produced significantly higher PGFA than all other groups, whereas group F produced significantly higher PGFA and lower PSFA than groups C, D, and E (P < .05). At the 6-mm level, group F produced significantly higher PGFA and lower PSFA (P < .05) than all other groups, whereas groups A and B produced significantly higher PGFA and lower PSFA than groups C, D, and E (P < .05). At the 8-mm level, group F produced significantly higher PGFA and lower PSFA (P < .05) than all other groups. Conclusions: Under the conditions of this study, lateral compaction and single-cone techniques that used constant tapered gutta-percha (FlexMaster, Mtwo) produced higher PGFA at the apical levels than variable tapered single-cone gutta-percha (ProTaper, Reciproc, WaveOne).