An evaluation of the quality of root fillings in mandibular incisors and maxillary and mandibular canines using different methodologies

Objectives: To evaluate the quality of root fittings in mandibular incisors and maxillary and mandibular canines using different methodologies of evaluation, namely radiographs, the fluid transport test and the percentage of gutta-percha (PGP), and to determine if a correlation occurs between the results of the different methodologies used. Methods: One group of mandibular incisors with oval canals (n=20) and one group of maxillary and mandibular canines (n=20) were instrumented and obturated by cold lateral compaction using AH 26 as the seater. The fitted roots were bucco-Lingually and mesio-distatty radiographed. Using a scoring system, the quality of each root fitting was radiographically evaluated, the higher the score the poorer the quality. Fluid transport along the root filling was then measured using a fluid transportation device. Each root was horizontally sectioned 4 and 6 mm from the apex. Images of the cross-sections were taken, using a microscope and a digital camera. Images were scanned into a PC as TIFF images. Using a KS 100 Imaging system the canal area and the gutta-percha fitted areas were measured. The percentage of gutta-percha fitted areas was calculated. Results: Considering the radiographic scores of the two different projections together the score was significantly higher for the mandibular incisors than for the canines (P=0.039). The radiographic score was significantly higher for the mesiodistal radiograph in comparison with the bucco-lingual radiograph (P=0.0001), for the canines as well as the incisors. Using only the bucco-lingual radiograph there was no significant difference between the mandibular incisors and the canines (P=0.992). The mandibular incisors displayed significantly more fluid transport than the canines (P=0.049). A significantly greater percentage of gutta-percha fitted areas was found in the cross-sections of canines as compared to the cross-sections of mandibular incisors (P=0.000001). The correlation between the radiographic score of the mesio-distal radiograph and the PGP 4 and 6 mm was significant (P=0.013). There was no significant correlation between the FT and the radiograph or the FT and the PGP. Conclusions: The quality of the root fillings in oval canal- mandibular incisors may be compromised. (c) 2005 Published by Elsevier Ltd.