comparison of thermomechanical compaction and cold lateral condensation obturation techniques on the basis of density measurements, using digital radiographs

ABSTRACT

To compare the cold lateral condensation and the thermomechnical condensation obturation techniques by measuring the radiographic density of the obturation. Digital radiographs were used as an aid for the comparison. A total of 100 single rooted teeth mainly central incisors were divided into two groups. Group A comprised of teeth that were obturated using cold lateral condensation and Group B comprised of teeth that were obturated using thermomechanical technique. The canals of all the teeth were prepared with rotary endodontics [Protaper System] with a working distance of 21mm. During the sample preparations irrigation with EDTA was used to remove the smear layer. One group of teeth was obturated with ISO standardized gutta percha points using cold lateral condensation and the other group was obturated using thermomechanical technique [Gutta Condensors-Dentsply]. Digital radiographs were taken processed in Digora System for both the techniques. The apical area was zoomed to 4x and density measurement readings for both the techniques were recorded and compared using Digora Optime. The mean for Group A was found to be 140 while for Group B the value was 136. The difference was statistically significant [p < 0.005]. The study concluded that both the techniques are acceptable clinically. However the cold lateral condensation technique was found to be superior to thermomechanical compaction in terms of radiographic density