COMPARISON OF THE SEALING ABILITY OF LASER-SOFTENED, LATERALLY CONDENSED AND LOW-TEMPERATURE THERMOPLASTICIZED GUTTA-PERCHA

This study compared the effectiveness of four different techniques used for obturation of single rooted-teeth: lateral condensation, low-temperature gutta-percha (Ultrafil), vertical condensation of gutta-percha softened by means of three different laser devices (argon, CO2, and Nd:YAG), or composite resin photopolymerized by argon laser. Seventy single-rooted teeth were instrumented using a step-back technique and obturated using one of the methods listed previously. To evaluate apical sealing effectiveness techniques, samples were subjected to 1% methylene blue dye at 37 degrees C for 7 days. The most extensive dye penetration (4.3 mm) was observed in teeth obturated with composite resin, followed by gutta-percha lased with CO2 (2.15 mm), and the Nd:YAG laser (3.54 mm). Gutta-percha softened with argon laser created an apical seal almost identical to that obtained with the lateral condensation and Ultrafil techniques (1.50, 1.45, and 1.48 mm of leakage, respectively). These results indicate that the argon laser can be used for gutta-percha softening to produce good apical sealing results.