THERMOGRAPHIC ASSESSMENT OF ROOT-CANAL OBTURATION USING THERMOMECHANICAL COMPACTION

The temperature changes on the root surface of 30 extracted human prem olar teeth during thermomechanical root canal obturation with gutta-pe rcha were determined using an infrared thermal imaging camera. Three h andpiece rotational speeds of 8, 12 and 16 x 10(3) r.p.m. were used, i n conjunction with a Gutta Condenser. On completion of the procedure, the quality of tooth canal obturation was examined radiographically. U nder the conditions of this experiment, surface root temperature rises of >97 degrees C were recorded during all three speed settings. The r adiographic quality of obturation between the groups appeared not to b e significantly different. The clinical relevance of these findings is uncertain, but the temperatures reported are of a magnitude to be of biological importance.