IN-VITRO TEMPERATURES PRODUCED BY A NEW HEATED INJECTABLE GUTTA-PERCHA SYSTEM

In vitro intracanal temperatures produced by the injection of high-tem perature thermoplasticized guttapercha were measured. Obturations of a standard root canal were performed using an Obtura II heated guttaper cha system at temperature settings of 160, 185, and 200-degrees-C. The re was an increase in the recorded temperatures in the root canal for all three temperature settings with the mean temperature range from 38 .52-degrees-C to 61.58-degrees-C. The mean temperature of the empty he ating chamber was also measured and was accurately indicated on the co ntrol unit. However, the mean temperature of the gutta-percha in the h eating chamber was almost 20-degrees-C cooler than expected at each of the three settings. Finally, there was more than a 100-degrees-C decr ease in the mean temperature of the extruded gutta-percha in relation to the temperature of the gutta-percha in the heating chamber. Several clinically relevant observations were noted. Each of these observatio ns was related to the temperature setting of the Obtura II control uni t.