Abstract
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the apical sealing ability of the Thermafil endodontic obturation technique and to compare it with lateral condensation technique. 42 straight canals from extracted human anterior teeth and 42 curved canals(> $25^{\circ}$) from maxillary and mandibular molar teeth were selected. And 80 of them were divided into four groups, 20 canals respectively. The teeth in prior two groups had straight canals and the other two groups had curved canals. The rest of four canals served as positive and negative controls. After resecting anatomical crowns, all canals were prepared using a standard step-back technique. Lateral condensation was used to obturate two groups, one group of straight ones the other curved. And Thermafil obturators were also used in the same two groups. Obturated teeth were infiltrated by India ink for a week, decalcified and cleared with 5% nitric acid and methyl salicylate. The apical leakage and the frequency of filled lateral and accessory canals were measured with stereomicroscope and also apical extrusion of sealer and gutta-percha and obturation time were checked and the data were analyzed statistically(one-way ANOVA, t-test, Chi-square test). The results were as follows : 1. There was no significant difference in the degree of dye penetration between Thermafil and lateral condensation groups(p>0.05). 2. Apical extrusion of sealer and gutta-percha occurred significantly more often with Thermafil obturators in straight canals(p<0.05), but not significantly different in curved canals(p>0.05). 3. Canal obturation time with Thermafil obturators was significantly faster than lateral condensation (p<0.05). 4. The Thermafil groups showed a higher frequency of filled lateral and accessory canals than in the lateral condensation groups. But the difference was not statistically significant (p>0.05).