APICAL SEAL OF TEETH OBTURATED BY THE LATERALLY CONDENSED GUTTA-PERCHA, THE THERMAFIL PLASTIC AND THERMAFIL METAL OBTURATOR TECHNIQUES AFTER POST SPACE PREPARATION

This in vitro study was conducted to determine the effect of post spac e preparation on teeth obturated with the Thermafil technique, both pl astic and metal carriers, and the lateral condensation method. Three g roups of 30 teeth each were obturated using the lateral condensation t echnique and the Thermafil plastic and metal techniques. Post space pr eparations were accomplished on the obturated groups. All specimens we re submerged in India ink under a vacuum for 15 min and then soaked fo r an additional hour at atmospheric pressure. The teeth were decalcifi ed and cleared to permit visualization and measurement of the extent o f dye penetration. There was approximately three times more dye penetr ation in group 2 (plastic carrier) when compared with group 1 (lateral condensation) and group 3 (metal carrier). This was statistically sig nificant at the 99% confidence level.