INVITRO INTRACANAL TEMPERATURES PRODUCED DURING WARM LATERAL CONDENSATION OF GUTTA-PERCHA

In vitro intracanal temperatures produced during the war lateral condensation of gutta-percha were measured using a computerized recording system that allowed repeated obturations of a root canal model. The obturations were performed using a Touch'n Heat unit. Temperatures were recorded to an accuracy of a hundredth degree centigrade by 16 intracanal thermocouples connected to the computerized measurement system. The highest intracanal temperature recorded was 114.51-degrees-C at a power setting of 6, while the mean intracanal temperature increase above the average room temperature ranged from 8.18 to 65.05-degrees-C. In addition, the spreader was not uniformly heated to the same temperature throughout its entire length. The hottest point on the spreader was located 5 mm from the tip.