ABSTRACT
This study aimed to quantify and compare the obturation quality after mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) orthograde fillings with three different obturation techniques. Thirty-three extracted human maxillary molars were collected. Distobuccal and palatal canals were prepared to an apical size of #40/06 with a Profile Ni-Ti system. All 66 canals were divided into two groups according to the material (EZ-seal or OrthoMTA) and then obturated using three different techniques: manual compaction using S-kondenser (group H), compactor activation (group C), or reverse rotary motion of Ni-Ti file (group R). The obturated roots were scanned using micro-computed tomography (micro-CT). The percentage of voids located in the apical 5 mm was measured separately, that is, closed, open, and total porosity. There was no relation between the filling material and obturation technique (p > 0.05). The percentage volume of open and total porosity was higher in EZ-seal than in OrthoMTA (open: p = 0.002, total: p = 0.001). Group H showed higher open and total porosity than groups C and R. Micro-CT analysis showed that the void volume after orthograde MTA fillings significantly decreased when the additional activation was accompanied by hand condensation. Obturation with a Ni-Ti file using reverse motion could be recommended as an MTA orthograde filling technique.
