In vitro interrelationship between apical fill and apical leakage using three different obturation techniques

Aim and Objectives: To evaluate the apical fill in relation to apical leakage using three different obturating techniques – Single Cone, Ultrafil 3D, and lateral condensation. Materials and Methods: Sixty-six mandibular single-rooted premolar teeth were selected and were randomly assigned into three different groups of obturating techniques. The canals were prepared using 0.4/25 HyFlex CM (Coltene Endo) rotary system file and obturated with corresponding HyFlex CM Single Cone, Ultrafil 3D injectable technique, and lateral condensation. AH Plus (Dentsply, Detrey) has been used as the sealer. Twenty teeth each were assigned to the three experimental groups, and six teeth were used as positive and negative controls (3 in each group). Fluid filtration technique was used to determine the amount of apical leakage. The evaluation was done for 8 min at the interval of every 2 min. The same teeth were sectioned and a spectroscopic examination was done at 2 mm and 4 mm distance from the apices. The obtained data were statistically analyzed using analysis of variance test followed by post hoc turkeys test for multiple comparisons. Results: The mean apical leakage was maximum for lateral condensation when compared to the Single Cone and Ultrafil 3D. The amount of apical fill at 2 mm and at 4 mm was found to be more in the Single Cone than the other two techniques. Conclusion: The present study concluded that Single Cone obturation technique exhibited more gutta-percha filled area in the canal which led to decreased apical leakage than Ultrafil 3D and lateral condensation techniques, proving to be more effective in achieving a complete three-dimensional apical seal.