Heat absorption and transportation potential of endodontic gutta-percha

Objectives:

Thermoplastic root canal filling methods are supposed to improve the adaptation of the filling material to the root canal walls. The aim of this investigation was to determine the heat absorption and transportation potential of gutta-percha.

Methods:

Heat was applied at room temperature (28/±2°C) by means of a heat-plugger size .10 (M) (SybronEndo, Orange CA, USA) to gutta-percha points (n=15) for 2s (±0.5s) sizes 30/.06 and .04 (Roeko/Coltène/Whaledent, Langenau, Germany). The maximum temperature (°C) of the heat-plugger tip and edge of the gutta-percha point at 5 and 1mm from their tip were measured by means of a ThermaCAM SC640 infrared camera (Flir Systems/Frankfurt, Germany). The results were statistically analyzed.

Results:

The mean temperatures applied and reached by the gutta-percha points sizes 30/.06 and .04 5mm from the tip were 302.62 (applied; ±32.05); 156.02 (reached; ±17.14) and 266.51 (applied; ±32.64); 136.16 (reached; ±26.47) respectively. The mean temperatures 1mm “apical” from this point were 302.62 (applied; ±32.05); 47.38 (reached; ±3.59) and 266.51 (applied; ±32.64); 75.38 (reached; ±8.10) respectively. The mean temperatures applied and reached by the gutta-percha points sizes 30/.06 and .04 1mm from the tip were 360.76 (applied; ±49.21); 133.32 (reached; ±41.15) and 288.26 (applied; ±91.04); 169.56 (reached; ±48.38) respectively.

Conclusions:

The statistical analysis of the differences between the applied and reached temperatures at 5 and 4mm from the gutta-percha tips demonstrated that gutta-percha has an extremely low heat transportation potential; thus, caution should be taken to place the heat-pluggers at the level were gutta-percha should plasticize to facilitate an effective compaction of the material.