Five methods of calcium hydroxide intracanal placement - An in vitro evaluation

Objective. The purpose of this study was to evaluate root canal dressing wi th calcium hydroxide paste using 5 techniques of placement. Study design. After endodontic preparation, each of 50 single-rooted premol ars was filled with calcium hydroxide paste through use of one of the follo wing techniques: Gutta-Condensor, MecaShaper, K-type ultrasonic file, Lentu lo, and Pastinject. Radiographs of all 3 third root zones were made after c leaning and shaping and obturation. Density measurements tin pixels) were r egistered by means of an image analyzer and then compared through use of an alysis of variance and Newman-Keuls multiple means tests. Results. With respect to average filling density, the techniques ranked as follows, in ascending order: Gutta-Condensor, MecaShaper, K-type ultrasonic file, Lentulo, and Pastinject. There was a significant difference (P < .00 09) between the Gutta-Condensor and Pastinject techniques, between the Meca Shaper and Pastinject techniques, and between the ultrasonic file and Pasti nject techniques; all favored the Pastinject. There were no significant dif ferences between the Cutta-Condensor, MecaShaper, ultrasonic file, and Lent ulo techniques or between the Lentulo and Pastinject techniques. Conclusions. The use of a specially designed paste carrier (the Pastinject) improved calcium hydroxide placement in root canals.