Increased density of gutta-percha using a controlled heat instrument with lateral condensation

The purpose of this study was to compare quantitatively the density of stan dard cold lateral gutta-percha condensation and warm lateral gutta-percha c ondensation using the System B heating instrument ina low-heat warm lateral condensation technique in an artificial root canal in vitro, Thirty-degree simulated root canals in 30 transparent acrylic blocks were instrumented u sing Gates-Glidden burs and Quantec (NT Company, Chattanooga, TN) rotary fi les. The canals were then obturated with gutta-percha using standard cold l ateral condensation without sealer, Warm lateral condensation without seale r using the System B instrument at 101 degreesC was then performed on the s ame 30 canals. A second treatment of warm lateral condensation was then app lied to these same canals, The blocks were weighed after the initial canal preparation and after each obturation treatment. Results showed warm latera l condensation of gutta-percha using the System B resulted in a significant increase in density by weight when compared with standard cold lateral con densation, A 23.97% increase in weight was realized after the first heat ap plication, compared with standard lateral condensation, a second heat appli cation produced an additional 2.59% increase in weight over that produced b y the first heat application, Data were analyzed using a t test for repeate d measures. Both increases were statistically significant (p < 0.001), Warm lateral condensation using the System B instrument results in denser gutta -percha fills by weight when compared with standard cold lateral condensati on.