A comparison of techniques for obturating oval-shaped root canals.

This study compared the effectiveness of three obturation techniques for oval-shaped canals. Roots of 42 extracted teeth with oval canals were randomly divided into three groups: (1) ProTaper canal preparation and single cone obturation with matching gutta-percha point; (2) ProTaper preparation plus thermoplastic obturation (Thermafil); (3) Profile .06 taper and matching master cone with lateral condensation. Cross-sectional area of the canal space occupied by sealer cement and gutta-percha was measured in the coronal, middle, and apical thirds using an image analysis software. The percentage of the cross-sectional shape occupied by sealer cement was calculated. The Thermafil group was significantly lower than the single cone group or the lateral condensation group in the middle third (p<0.01) and lower than the single cone group in the coronal third (p<0.05). There were no significant differences between the single cone obturation group and the lateral condensation group in each level.