Thermomechanical compaction of gutta‐percha. I. A comparison of several compaction procedures

Summary. The root canals of 97 extracted, single‐rooted teeth were prepared and filled by thermomechanical compaction of gutta‐percha and an additional 17 teeth were used unfilled as controls to observe dye penetration. By varying the size of the master gutta‐percha cone, the size of the compacting instrument and the amount of gutta‐percha inserted into the root canal before compaction, seven experimental groups were formed. The criteria used for judging the quality of root canal fillings were radiographic examination, dye penetration and adaptation in transverse sections. One method of using the technique proved to be superior to the other six. A significant difference from other experimental methods, however, was only found with radiographic examination and dye penetration, respectively. No significant differences were obtained when the adaptation of gutta‐percha was compared; this was also the case with the combined results of the three criteria.