Assessment of the accuracy of two gutta-percha gauges used to alter gutta-percha tip diameter.

This study sought to compare the accuracy of two gauges used to alter gutta-percha (GP) cone tips. Randomly selected size 20 cones (with tapers of 0.02, 0.06, 0.10, or 0.12) were trimmed to size 50 (N= 10/taper/gauge) for an overall sample of 80 cones. Accuracy of the altered cone tips was determined by calculating the difference (in %) between the altered tip diameter and the expected tip diameter (0.50 mm). A two-factor ANOVA revealed significant differences (p < or = 0.05) in altered tip accuracy as a result of GP gauge and cone taper. The results suggest that the SybronEndo gauge performs accurately regardless of the cone taper, while the Maillefer gauge was accurate only when used to alter cones with a 0.02 taper.