INFLUENCE OF NICKEL-TITANIUM SPREADER ON THE SEALING ABILITY IN LATERAL CONDENSATION TECHNIQUE

측방가압충전시 Nickel-Titanium spreader의 사용유무가 근관충전효과에 마치는 영향

Lateral condensation with gutta-percha and sealer has been shown to provide an excellent apical seal; however, the lateral condensation technique has demonstrated less favorable apical leakage results in curved canals when compared with straight canals. Placement of endodontic spreaders to within 1 to 2mm of the root canal working length has been advocated for optimum gutta-percha obturation. Due to their stiffness, stainless-steel(SS) spreaders will often fail to achieve this position in curved canals. Newly marketed nickel-titanium(NT) spreaders may offer an advantage in this regard due to the increased flexibility of these instruments. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of NT finger spreader on the sealing ability in lateral condensation technique, compared with conventional SS finger spreader. Twenty four standardized resin models simulating curved canals(30 degree) were randomly placed into 2 groups and instrumented to a #30 master apical file size with Ni-Ti Profile .04 taper series using step down technique. Each groups was obturated with standardized gutta-percha cone by standard lateral condensation technique using SS finger spreader, NT finger spreader. And then, each model was sectioned horizontally with microtome at 1, 2, 3, 4, 5mm levels from the apex. At each of 5 levels, ratio of the area of gutta-percha was obtained by calculating the area of gutta-percha to the total area of the canal. The data collected were then analyzed statistically using a t test for independent samples. The results as follows ; 1. The total mean ratio of area of gutta-percha was 89.20${\pm}$7.00(%) for SS spreader group. 92.20${\pm}$5.17(%) for NT spreader group. There was statistically significant difference between each group(p<0.05). 2. At 3mm level, the mean ratio of area of gutta-percha was 88.32${\pm}$5.41(%) for SS spreader group, 95.25${\pm}$2.60(%) for NT spreader group. There was statistically significant difference between each group(p<0.05). At 1,2,4mm levels, NT spreader group showed greater mean ratio of area of gutta-percha than SS spreader group, too. But there was no statistically significant difference. 3. At 5mm level, the mean ratio of area of gutta-percha was 91.83${\pm}$3.42(%) for SS spreader group, 87.91${\pm}$3.68(%) for NT spreader group. There was statistically significant difference between each group(p<0.05). This study concluded that the NT spreader demonstrated somewhat favorable apical sealing effect than SS spreader in prepared curved canals. The clinical use of NT spreaders may enhance our ability to create better apical seals in curved canals, but further studies in this area will help clarify some of the remaining areas with which practitioners are concerned, such as compaction forces exerted by NT spreaders.