An Evaluation of the Apical Seal in Oval-shaped Root Canals Prepared with Either Self-adjusting Files or ProTaper Files

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the apical seal obtained with lateral compaction of gutta-percha in oval-shaped root canals prepared with either self-adjusting files or ProTaper rotary files. Materials and Methods: Twelve pairs of extracted mandibular premolars with oval-shaped root canals were randomly divided into two groups. The first group was biomechanically prepared with ProTaper files, while the self-adjusting file system was used in the second group. The roots were obturated using cold lateral compaction of gutta-percha. Apical microleakage was measured with the computerized fluid filtration method. The results were analyzed statistically using the Mann-Whitney U test. Results: All of the roots in both groups showed leakage. Group 1 demonstrated significantly less microleakage (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Instrumentation of oval-shaped canals using a self-adjusting file system with cold lateral compaction of gutta-percha demonstrated significantly greater apical microleakage when compared to ProTaper. The apical leakage with different obturation techniques, combined with self-adjusting files, should be evaluated in further studies.

Keywords

• protaper; self-adjusting file; oval-shaped canals; apical microleakage