The quality of root fillings remaining in mandibular incisors after root-end cavity preparation

Aim The aim of this study was to determine the quality of root fillings remaining in mandibular incisors after root‐end resection and root‐end cavity preparation. Methodology Roots of 40 mandibular incisors, 12 mm in length, were divided into two groups and instrumented using a balanced force technique and obturated by vertically compacted warm gutta‐percha. In one group sealer was used when back‐filling the root canal with the Obtura System. The other group was also back‐filled with the Obtura System but without sealer. The apical 4 mm of each root filling was removed by root‐end resection and root‐end cavity preparation. Fluid transport along the 7 mm of remaining root filling was measured. After the leakage test, horizontal sections were cut at a level 3 mm from the apical end of the remaining root filling. The cross sectional area of the canal and gutta‐percha was measured using an image analysis program. The quality of the remaining root fillings was also evaluated by calculating the percentage of gutta‐percha filled canal area. Results In total, 27 (67%) out of the 40 roots demonstrated leakage. No significant difference was found between the two groups (P = 0.265). In the cross‐sections the bucco‐lingual canal diameter was up to 2.6 mm long (mean 1.6 mm). The average percentage of gutta‐percha filled canal area was 85.6%. Warm gutta‐percha could not obturate areas where debris remained after instrumentation. Conclusions The quality of the root fillings in mandibular incisors was poor, probably because the unprepared recesses of oval canals were not clean.