Comparison of obturation density using nickel titanium and stainless steel spreaders by lateral compaction technique

Abstract Background and Aim: The density of Gutta-percha is an important factor in canal seal and root canal treatment success. So, the present study intended to compare the effect of Ni-Ti and S-S spreaders on the intracanal Gutta-percha weight. Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, 40 simulated canals with 40 de-gree curvature (group 1 and 2) and 40 simulated canals with 10 degree curves (group 3 and 4) were used. Each block was weighted after cleaning and shaping using Flexmaster rotary instruments. Group 1 and 3 blocks were obturated using Ni-Ti spreaders, while group 2 and 4 blocks were obturated using stainless steel spreaders with Gutta-percha. The simulated canals were again weighted and the difference of the two measurements was calculated as the Gutta-percha weight. The results were analyzed using SPSS software and 2-way ANOVA tests. Results: The analysis showed that there was no significant difference between the four experimental groups. In addition, the effect of the canal curvature, spreader type and the interaction of the variables was not statistically significant. Conclusion: The current study showed that different spreader types (Ni-Ti or S-S) do not affect the Gutta-percha weight of the root canal obturation. Key Words: Gutta percha - Density - Canal obturation - Lateral compaction technique - Stainless steel - Spreader - Nickel-titanium spreader