Nimet Gencoglu

Dentinal wall adaptation of thermoplasticized gutta-percha in the absence or presence of smear layer: a scanning electron microscopic study.

The dentinal adaptation of injected thermoplasticized gutta-percha and thermoplasticized gutta-percha resulting from Ultrafil and Thermafil systems was evaluated by scanning electron microscopy and compared with adaptation obtained with the lateral condensation of gutta-percha. Each method was evaluated with and without the smear layer removed. Scanning electron microscopic observations showed the thermoplasticized gutta-percha resulting from either system to have better dentinal wall adaptation than lateral condensation of gutta-percha in either the absence or presence of the smear layer. In the absence of smear layer, the adaptation of gutta-percha was improved in all groups. Although sealer was used, removing the smear layer was found to enhance the ability of the thermoplasticized gutta-percha to enter the patent tubules.

Comparison of 6 different gutta-percha techniques (part II): Thermafil, JS Quick-Fill, Soft Core, Microseal, System B, and lateral condensation

OBJECTIVES In this in vitro study, the core-to-sealer ratios were calculated for 6 different gutta-percha techniques: Thermafil, JS Quick-Fill, Soft Core, Microseal, System B, and lateral condensation. The core consisted of gutta-percha or gutta-percha and carrier. STUDY DESIGN The sealer-to-core ratios for the Thermafil, JS Quick-Fill, System B, and lateral condensation techniques were published previously. In this study, the sealer-to-core ratio for Microseal and Soft Core techniques was investigated. For this purpose, 20 teeth filled by using the Soft Core or the Microseal technique were embedded in resin and sectioned horizontally at 1, 2, 3, and 4 mm from the anatomic apex. Photographs were taken of each section, and the total area of the canals filled with core material or sealer was calculated. RESULTS Once all results were compiled, it became clear that core techniques (Thermafil, JS Quick-Fill, and Soft Core) produced higher gutta-percha content than the Microseal, System B, and lateral condensation techniques (P <.05). The lateral condensation technique produced the least gutta-percha content (P <.05). CONCLUSION Thermafil, JS Quick-Fill, and Soft Core were found to be superior to the Microseal, System B, and lateral condensation techniques in terms of the gutta-percha-to-sealer ratio.

Evaluation of Sealing Properties of Thermafil and Ultrafil Techniques in the Absence or Presence of Smear Layer

The apical sealing abilities of two thermoplasticized gutta-percha techniques were evaluated. A total of 128 single-rooted teeth were divided into six groups in which Ultrafil, Thermafil, and lateral condensation techniques, with and without the smear layer, were used to obturate 20 roots in each group. The roots were implanted subcutaneously in rats for 90 days to expose the materials to vital tissue and tissue fluids. The roots were recovered, immersed in 1% methylene blue for 2 wk, cleared, and the dye penetration was measured using a dissecting microscope. Thermafil showed the least leakage with smear layer present and Ultrafil the least with it absent. The two thermoplasticized gutta-percha techniques both showed significantly less leakage than lateral condensation with and without the smear layer. Removing the smear layer reduced the leakage significantly in all groups.

Use of mineral trioxide aggregate in the treatment of horizontal root fractures with a 5-year follow-up: report of a case.

Root fractures are those that involve dentin, cementum, and the pulp. They occur more frequently in children than adults. This case report describes the treatment and 5-year follow-up of two maxillary central incisors with horizontal root fractures using mineral trioxide aggregate and the application of intracoronal bleaching of the discolored tooth.

Effectiveness of different gutta-percha techniques when filling experimental internal resorptive cavities.

AIM To determine the quality of root fillings in teeth with artificial internal resorptive cavities filled with Thermafil, JS Quick-Fill, Soft Core, System B and Microseal, and by cold lateral compaction (LC) technique. METHODOLOGY Sixty maxillary incisor teeth were selected. After access cavity preparation and root canal instrumentation, the roots were sectioned horizontally and artificial internal resorption cavities were prepared on the canal walls. The tooth sections were cemented together and the root canals were filled using one of six different techniques: Thermafil, JS Quick-Fill, Soft Core, System B and Microseal, and by LC. The roots were then divided at the level of the previous section and each root surface was photographed. Image analysis program was used to calculate the percentage of sealer, gutta-percha and void in the internal resorptive cavities. All measurements were analysed statistically using One-way ANOVA and Newman-Keuls tests. RESULTS The Microseal technique filled 99% of the artificial resorptive area followed by LC (92%), SystemB (89%), Quick-Fill (88%), Thermafil (74%) and Soft-Core (73%). Warm gutta-percha compaction techniques filled the resorption areas with more gutta-percha than sealer (Microseal 68%, System B 62%) compared to the other techniques (LC 48%, Quick Fill 41%, Soft Core 34%, Thermafil 35%). In addition, core techniques left a considerable volume of voids in the resorptive areas (Quick-Fill 12%, Thermafil 26%, Soft Core 27%). CONCLUSIONS Warm gutta techniques filled artificial resorption cavities significantly better than the other gutta-percha techniques.