TECHNIQUES OF

OBTURATION
D E E P T H I P . R .
I I I Y E AR M D S
D E P T . O F C O N S S E R V AT I V E D E N T I S T R Y & E N D O D O N T I C S
 INTRODUCTION

Many methods: old & new

Plasticity/ flow of GP
Flow into the RC
Compress against the walls
Fill fine tortuous canals
Seal various exits
Compact into a solid core filling
 DIFFERENT TECHNIQUES

1. Cold Lateral Compaction

2. Warm Compaction (warm GP)
A. Vertical
B. Lateral
3. Continuous wave Compaction technique
4. Thermoplasticized GP injection
5. Carrier- based GP
A. Thermafil thermoplasticized
B. SimpliFill sectional obturation
6. McSpadden thermomechanical compaction
7. Chemically plasticized GP
8. Custom cone
 COLD LATERAL COMPACTION

Most widely taught & practised

Sealer considerations
Spreader considerations
Master cone considerations
Radiographs
 TECHNIQUE

Isolation &
Checking for
drying the Selection of
apical TUG
canals with master cone
BACK
paper points
 TECHNIQUE

Inadequate fit- beyond the apex

Tip cut off: reinserted primary cone fits snugly at the WL
Next larger size GP inserted & verified

Inadequate fit- short of the apex

Patency established to the corrected length
Another primary GP inserted & verified

At working length
 TECHNIQUE

Sealer manipulation
Canal coated

Master cone inserted till WL

Spreader inserted alongside: level 1mm short of the WL- 10 to 60 sec

Spreader disengaged
Placement of sequential accessory cones by lateral compaction

Endodontic Topics 2005, 12, 224

 Butt end of the GP: cut off with heated instrument
Warm vertical compaction: coronal GP
Chamber cleaned
Restoration placed
 COLD LATERAL COMPACTION

Advantages Limitations
Deep spreader Presence of voids
penetration: minimize Increased sealer : GP
apical leakage/
percolation ratio
Positive dimensional Less able to seal
stability of the root intracanal defects &
canal filling lateral canals
Less likelihood of Less homogeneous
carrying filling material mass
beyond the root apex Time consuming
JOEVolume 32, Number 4, April 2006
Endodontic Topics 2005, 12, 224
 VARIANTS ON COLD LATERAL
COMPACTION
Warming spreaders before each use in a hot bead
sterilizer
Softening gutta percha with heat before insertion
of the cold spreader
Mechanical activation of finger spreaders in an
endodontic reciprocating handpiece
Application of an ultrasonically energized spreader
Application of an engine-driven
thermomechanical compactor which creates
frictional heat and advances the material apically
within the canal

Endodontic Topics 2005, 12, 224

 STUDIES

Bal et al.
Hembrough et al.
Wilson & Baumgartner
Better results with warm techniques: Collins et al.
Da Silva et al.
 WARM VERTICAL COMPACTION

Herbert Schilder
Berg
Heated pluggers
Objectives defined: preparation for obturation with
this technique
Indications
 TECHNIQUE

Primary non std. or

greater taper GP Canal coated
Primary GP cone
cone with thin layer of
inserted to WL
corresponding to RC sealer
the last instrument
 TECHNIQUE

Heat carrier: Coronal GP

Coronal end of
plugger, electric seared off by the
the cone cut
heat carriers: plugger as it is
off wih a heated
orced into the removed from
instrument
coronal 3rd of GP the canal
 TECHNIQUE

Vertical pressure Alternate

Forces the
with condenser/ application of
plasticized
plugger of heat carrier &
material apically
suitable size condenser: 3D FIll
WARM VERTICAL COMPACTION
WARM VERTICAL COMPACTION

Pulp Canal Sealer, Kerr

Endodontic Topics 2005, 12, 224

 WARM VERTICAL COMPACTION

Advantges Disadvantages
Irregularities & Time consuming
accessory canals Risk of vertical fracture
better filled from undue force
Excellent seal of the Less length control
canal laterally & Overfiling with GP or
apically sealer that cannot be
retrieved from
periradicular tissues
Difficult in curved
canals
 WARM LATERAL COMPACTION

Warm GP hybrid technique; Martin

Master cone placed
Lateral compaction: heat carriers
Unheated spreader & accessory cones
Endotec II, Endo Twinn, EI DownPak
 WARM LATERAL COMPACTION

Endo Tec II:

Liewehr et al. Increased weight of GP: 14.63%
Kersten et al.
Collins et al.

Endo Twinn:
Kulid et al.

JOEVolume 32, Number 8, August 2006

 CONTINUOUS WAVE COMPACTION
TECHNIQUE
Buchanan
Greater hydraulic forces
Tapered pluggers: System B
 CONTINUOUS WAVE COMPACTION
TECHNIQUE

Master cone Cold plugger

System set in
selected & initillay placed
Touch mode:
plugger prefitted: against GP; firm
200oC
5-7mm from WL pressure
 CONTINUOUS WAVE COMPACTION
TECHNIQUE

Plugger rapidly Heat inactivated; Cooled; 1 sec

moved: 1-2 sec firm pressure heat application
within 3mm o maintained: 5- 10 separates
binding point sec plugger
ppdentistry.com
ppdentistry.com
ppdentistry.com
 CONTINUOUS WAVE COMPACTION
TECHNIQUE
Mean temperature change near CEJ: 4.1oC
Silver et al. Elevation > 10oC
Flore et al. temperature setting > 250oC- hazardous
 THERMOPLASTIC INJECTION
TECHNIQUES
Harvard/ Forsythe Institute: 1977
Obtura III
Calamus
Elements
HotShot
Ultrafil 3D- 90oC
Obtura II- 160oC
 OBTURA III

Hand-held gun
Ag needles
Control unit
 OBTURA III

Canal GP Gradually &

dried, preheated: passively
coated with needle injected;
sealer within 3-5 compacted
mm of with
apical pluggers
prepaartion dipped in
alcohol
 OBTURA III

Length control: Hybrid technique

Tani- Ishii et al.
Weller et al.
Jacobsen et al.
 CALAMUS

Cartridge system : 20 & 23 G needles

Control of temperature
Flow rate
Pluggers
360 degree activation switch
 ULTRAFIL- 3D

GP cannulas
Heating unit
Injection syringe
3 types of Cannulas: Regular set, Firm set & Endoset
 ELEMENTS

System B heat source & plugger

Extruder
20, 23 , 25 gauge needles: GP
20, 23 gauge: Real Seal
 HOTSHOT

Cordless thermoplastic device

150oC to 230o C
GP or Resilon
20, 23, 25 gauge needles
 GUTTAFLOW

Polydimethyl siloxane with finely ground GP

Capsules
WT: 15; curing: 25- 30
 CARRIER- BASED GP

Thermafil
Profile GT obturators
GT Series X Obturators
ProTaper Universal Obturators
Successfil
SimpliFill
JS Quick-Fill
 THERMAFIL

GP with a solid core

Metal core & coating of GP
Advantages
Disadvantages
Obturators: correspond to file systems
Sealer: required
 THERMAFIL

Canal dried; Paced on Position verified

light coat of heating device radiographically
sealer applied. Retrieved & 2-4 minutes:
Carrier set to inserted into cooling
predetermined canal : 10 sec Resection of
length Rapid insertion: carrier
disinfected enhances
obturation
THERMAFIL
 THERMAFIL

Advantage
Disadvantage
Pro Post drills
Retreatment
Plastic carriers- non toxic material
 SUCCESSFIL

Associated with Ultrafil 3D

GP: syringe
Carrier inserted into syringe
Sealer coated on canal walls: carrier with GP
paced
 TRIFECTA TECHNIQUE

Hygenic Corporation
Succesfil GP injected onto sterile K-file tip
Carried into most apical part: turned counter-
clockwise
Soft GP condensed
Remainder: Ultrafil GP
Modified Trifecta: rest with lateral condensation

Chandra & Shetty. Endodontology.

 SIMPIFILL

LightSpeed Instruments
Apical 5mm GP plug
Carrier: MAF
Seated & carrier removed
Lateral compaction/ thermoplastic
 JS QUICKFIL

Alpha phase GP coated Ti cores

ISO: 15 to 60
Spun into the canal at low speed
Maybe left behind or removed
THERMOMECHANICAL COMPACTION

McSpadden compactor
H- file in reverse
Slow speed handpiece
Advantage
Disadvantages
Microseal condensers
 SOLVENT TECHNIQUES

CHCl3 , Eucalyptol, xylol.

Disadvantages
Callahan- Johnson technique
95% ethyl alcohol solution, chlorosin solution
Nygard- Ostby technnique

JOE Volume 32, Number 4, April 2006

 SOLVENT TECHNIQUES

A small amount of chloropercha is streaked onto

the walls of the dry root canal with a fine root canal
spreader or other suitable instrument.
The apical third of the master cone is dipped into
the chloropercha paste, and the entire master
cone is gently repositioned into the canal.
The material in the canal is now forced laterally with
root canal spreaders, making room for additional
GP cones which are added repeatedly in sufficient
number to provide a dense root canal filling.

JOE Volume 32, Number 4, April 2006

 Each piece of GP blends with the GP &
chloropercha already in the canal to form a
homogeneous mass which conforms quite
adequately to the configuration of the root canal
system.
The lateral pressure on the plastic GP chloropercha
mixture automatically imparts a small vertical
component of pressure, owing to the shape of most
prepared canals.
The entire mass moves apically during lateral
condensation with any solvent technique.

JOE Volume 32, Number 4, April 2006

 SINGLE- CONE OBTURATIONS

1960s: ISO standardization

Circular, stop preparation in the apical 2mmof the
canal: single GP, Ag, sectional Ag or Ti
Cemented in place: thin & uniform layer of
traditional sealer
Ergonomic matched file & cone

Endodontic Topics 2005, 12, 224

 CONCLUSION

Wide array of options and materials

Wisely chosen & applied depending on the clinical
situation
Thank you!!