Comparative analysis of various obturation techniques in mandibular molars-A retrospective clinical outcome study

Abstract

The primary objective of root canal treatment is the ability to remove irri-tants, to clean, shape and fill the root canal system three-dimensionally and prevent recontamination from bacterial irritants. Various Obturation techniques used for filling the root canals include lateral condensation, vertical compression, and thermoplastic gutta-percha techniques. The retrospective study aimed to evaluate the various obturation techniques used in mandibular molars. For this retrospective study data collection was based on patient records of Saveetha Dental College, Chennai and consisted of a total of 1903 cases evaluated based on the obturation technique within the time frame of 10th June 2019 to 1st March 2020. In this study, the obturation technique was evaluated based on the patients age, gender, procedure and based on the tooth in which obturation was done. Inclusion criteria consisted of the tooth that underwent endodontic treatment in patients within the age group of 18 to 60 yrs, a tooth with irreversible pulpal disease or chronic apical peri-odontitis, permanent tooth and mandibular molars. Exclusion criteria consisted of patients above 60 years, primary tooth, teeth in which root canal treatment was not undertaken, teeth with the presence of huge periapical lesions, severely calcified canals etc., severe periodontal disease, teeth apart from mandibular molars. All the values were then statistically analysed. In this study, 1930 patients (848 are females, and 1055 were males with a mean age of 24 years) were included. It was observed in this retrospective study that there was a significant difference between the various types of obturation technique used in mandibular molars. Matched single cone obturation technique was the preferred technique of obturation in the majority of the cases (62.4%). Single cone obturation technique has advantages over other techniques of obturation due to the fewer stress forces implied apically, thereby preventing an excess of sealer extrusion.