RETREATMENT OF TEETH FILLED WITH SINGLE CONE TECHNIQUE AND MTA BASED SEALER – COMPARISON OF THE EFFECTIVENESS OF DIFFERENT RETREATMENT TECHNIQUES (IN VITRO STUDY)

Abstract

Purpose: The aim of the presented in vitro study was to compare the effectiveness of three different retreatment techniques in the removal of MTA-based sealer and taper matched single gutta-percha cone from the root canal. Material and methods: Extracted single rooted human teeth were used (n=33). Roots were enlarged using ProTaper Universal files up to size F2. They were filled with central cone technique and MTA-based sealer. Specimens were divided into three groups (n=11), according to the retreatment method: Gr1 – retreated using ProTaper Universal Retreatment files; Gr2 – hand instruments (H files); Gr3 – ultrasonic tips. For determining the effectiveness of the removal of the filling material specimens were scanned with CT and then observed under microscope under 16x magnification. Results: Best removal of the filling material for the coronal and middle part was achieved with the hand instruments. The ultrasonic tips presented best in the apical part. Conclusions: Complete removal of filling material was not achieved in any part of the root canal. Worst results were achieved with the machine rotary files. We would recommend the combined use of machine files with either hand files or ultrasonic tips for achieving better results.