Effectiveness of different obturation techniques in the filling of simulated lateral canals

The purpose of this in vitro study was to evaluate the ability of lateral c ompaction of gutta-percha and of five thermoplasticized gutta-percha fillin g techniques to obturate simulated lateral canals. Sixty extracted single-r ooted human teeth were instrumented at the working length to a #35 file bef ore creating three simulated lateral canals on the mesial and distal surfac es of the root, one in each third, using a #15 engine reamer, After enlargi ng root canals to a #45 file, the teeth were randomly divided into six equa l groups of 10 and obturated according to the following techniques: lateral compaction of gutta-percha (group A), hybrid technique (group B), Ultrafil (group C), Obtura II (group D), System B + Obtura II (group E), and Therma fil (group F). AH26 was used as the sealer, A greater number of simulated l ateral canals were obturated when Ultrafil, Thermafil, and System B + Obtur a II were used, in comparison with canals obturated with the hybrid techniq ue, Obtura II, or lateral compaction of gutta-percha. This difference was s tatistically significant (p < 0.05). No statistically significant differenc es were found between results obtained in the obturation of simulated later al canals in the different thirds of the root (p > 0.05).