CIENTIFIC ARTICLES

The influence of master cone adaptation on the quality

of the apical seal

David A. Allison, DMD; Robert J. Michelich, DDS; and Richard E. Walton, DMD

This s t u d y s o u g h t to e v a l u a t e h o w the a d a p t a t i o n of the m a s t e r c o n e

affected the apical seal. C a n a l s w e r e e n l a r g e d to s t a n d a r d i z e d or s t e p -
b a c k flared tapers, a n d m a s t e r c o n e s w e r e fitted to a c c e p t e d visual
a n d tactile s t a n d a r d s . C o n e a d a p t a t i o n w a s e x a m i n e d b y r a d i o g r a p h s
a n d classified as a d a p t e d or n o n a d a p t e d . O b t u r a t e d s p e c i m e n s w e r e
i m m e r s e d in 45Ca solution, a n d m i c r o l e a k a g e w a s d e t e c t e d w i t h
a u t o r a d i o g r a p h s . T h e r e w a s n o statistical d i f f e r e n c e in e x t e n s i v e
m i c r o l e a k a g e in canals o b t u r a t e d w i t h a d a p t e d or n o n a d a p t e d m a s t e r
cones. T h e results s h o w e d t h a t r a d i o g r a p h i c criteria for a d a p t i n g
m a s t e r c o n e s w e r e m o r e r i g o r o u s t h a n visual a n d tactile criteria a n d
that a d a p t a t i o n of the m a s t e r c o n e to precise r a d i o g r a p h i c criteria is
not r e q u i r e d to e s t a b l i s h a fluid-tight apical seal.

'With lateral condensation, master
cone adaptation is considered an
important factor in the development
of a fluid-tight seal at the apical
extent of the root canal preparation
and in the total obturation of the
:root canal space. Most authors agree
that a cone that closely fits the apical
area of the canal space is the objec-
tive of master cone adaptation; how-
ever, their criteria and techniques for
determining the adequacy of adapta-
tion vary.
The distance of the master cone
from the apical end of the canal
preparation and the binding be-
tween the cone and the lateral walls
of the canal are both used to estab-
lish criteria of adaptation that can be
evaluated by visual, tactile, and
radiographic methods. 1 Visual exam-
ination is used to determine the dis-
tance of the master cone tip to the
extent of the canal preparation by
measuring the master cone penetra-
tion and comparing it with the
known prepared length. Tactile sen-
sation can be used to determine
lateral adaptation by the feeling of
resistance to the cone's removal,
which is caused by binding between
the master cone and the canal walls.
The tactile indicators for proper
master cone adaptation have been
described as "slight resistance,'"-'
"resistance, '':~ "good tugback, ''~ and
a "good deal of pulling force, ''1 when
removing the cone. Radiographs are
also used to assess the lateral fit and
the length of the master cone. In the
apical third, a radiolucent line
between the master cone and the
canal wall indicates an inadequate
lateral fit, which has been presumed
to result in inadequate obturation2 '~
Radiographically, length is deter-
mined by measuring the distance
from the tip of the master cone to the
apical extent of the preparation. This
length has also been considered an
important factor in attaining ade-
quate obturation; there is disagree-
ment as to what the length should
be.
Weine'-' and Nguyen ~ advocate
placing the master cone to the full
length of the prepared canal, or just
short of it. Moreno 6 says that the
master cone should be adapted to
within 0.5 m m of the apical foramen
before lateral condensation; whereas,
Ingle and others 1 maintain that the
master cone should extend to 1.0 m m
short of the working length. Gross-
man 5 and Morse 3 say that, after
adapting the master cone to the full

61

prepared length, it should be trim-
med 1.0 m m or 1.5 m m :~short of this
length.
Although the authors differ in the
distances they r e c o m m e n d for master
cone adaptation, they all agree that
the final obturation should fill the
canal to the prepared length. This
can be achieved if master cones short
of the prepared lengths are moved
apically, with the aid of sealer lubri-
cation and the force of condensa-
tion. 2-a Allison and others 7 showed
that deep spreader penetration was
important in preventing apical mi-
croleakage. Thus, careful adaptation
of the master cone m a y not be criti-
cal if the spreader molds the plastic
gutta-percha into the apical portion
of the preparation.
Although the master cone adapta-
tion m a y affect the quality of the
apical seal, there are disagreements
and a lack of uniform criteria for
determining adequate adaptation. In
addition, there is no published exper-
imental evidence that examines the
various related factors, particularly
radiographic criteria. Therefore, the
purposes of this study were, first, to
examine the relationship between
the radiographic evidence used to
determine master cone adaptation
and the resultant quality of the api-
cal seal, and second, to examine the
relationship between the radiograph-
ic criteria and the visual and tactile
criteria for assessing master cone
adaptation.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
T h e teeth used and the methods of
their preparation and evaluation are
described in detail in a previous
publication. 7 T h e following is a con-
densation of that methodology.
Forty-three single-rooted extracted
teeth with vital pulps were selected
62
JOURNAL OF ENDODONTICS I VOL 7, NO 2, FEBRUARY 1981
and stored in a 1% solution of thymol
in water. All teeth had single canals
with patent apexes and had root
curvatures of less than 20 ~ in the
apical third. After straight-line ac-
cess was obtained and the working
lengths established to within 1.0 m m
of the apexes, the teeth were r a n d o m -
ly divided into two groups and the
canals were enlarged with either a
standardized taper or a step-back
(flared) taper. The tapered shape of
the prepared canals in all teeth was
determined by placing a D-11
spreader (Star Dental Mfg. Co.) into
each canal. The canal shapes were
divided into two groups, using the
following criteria: spreader-deep, in
which the tip of the spreader was 0 to
1 m m of the prepared length, and
spreader-short, in which the tip of
the spreader was greater than 1 m m
from the prepared length. T w o teeth
from each group were selected as
positive or negative controls.
Gutta-percha master cones were
adapted by inserting Kerr fine cones
into the canals. A d a p t a t i o n of the
master cones was assessed by visual,
tactile, and radiographic means. For
visual evaluation, master cones were
grasped at a point equal to the pre-
pared length and inserted into the
canals to this point. T h e y were then
clipped off until the cone demon-
strated a slight tactile resistance to
removal from the canal. This proce-
dure for adapting master cones was
the same for all specimens. There-
fore, the a m o u n t of resistance to
removal was not included as a vari-
able in this study. All cones were
fitted so that they were no more than
1.0 m m short of the prepared
lengths.
Radiographs from a proximal
view were obtained for each speci-
men with master cones in place. T w o
variables were evaluated blind by
two independent observers: the dis-
tance from the tip of the master cone
to the apical extent of the prepara.
tion, and the presence or absence o!
radiolucent space between the cone
and the canal walls in the apical
third. T h e specimens were divided
according to master cone a d a p t a t i o n
into two groups, using the following;
radiographic criteria: adapted, in
w h i c h the cone was 0.0 to 0.5 mrn
from the apical preparation and
there were no lateral spaces in the
apical third (Fig 1); and non,
adapted, in which the cone was 0.5 to
1.0 m m from the apical preparation
or lateral spaces were evident in the
apical third (Fig 2).
All canals in the experimental
groups were obturated by lateral
condensation with the master cones,
Kerr fine accessory cones, and a zinc-
oxide eugenol sealer (Union Broach
Co.), as described by Allison and
others. 7 T h e teeth used as positive
and negative controls had their cor-
onal access sealed with wax. The
foramens of the two positive controls
were allowed to remain patent, to
determine if leakage would occur the
length of the canal. The foramens of
the two negative controls were sealed
with zinc-oxide eugenol. 7
The root surfaces of all specimens
were coated with fingernail polish,
leaving the apical foramens open,
and the specimens were stored in
100% humidity at room temperature
for seven to ten days. All specimens
were then submerged in a solution of
~SCa (0.1 m C i / m l ) for 24 hours,
washed, and sliced into 0.8 m m cross
sections, with a 0.4-mm thick dia-
mond blade, the entire length of the
root. Autoradiographs for assessing
microleakage were obtained, as pre-
viously described. 7 T h e degree of
 JOURNAL OF ENDODONTICS I VOL 7, NO 2, FEBRUARY 1981

Fig 2--Nonadapted
master cones. Both
specimens have lateral
space between cones
and canal walls (ar-
row a). Tip of master
cone is 0.5 to 1.0 mm
from apical extent of
the preparation (ar-
row b).

RESULTS 22% of the master cones in spreader-

Fig 1--Adapted master cone. Proximal radio-
deep canal preparation were
graph shows master cone with no lateral Eighteen of the 22 canals enlarged adapted. Although these results indi-
space between cone and canal wall, and cone with a standardized taper had a final cated that adapted master cones
tip is less than 0.5 mm from apical extent of canal shape that was spreader-short,
preparation. occurred more frequently with
and all of the canals enlarged with a spreader-short canal shapes, there
step-back technique had a final was no statistical difference between
canal shape that was spreader-deep. the two groups (Table 2).
Because two teeth from each group Penetration of ~aCa in the control
microleakage was determined by
were used as controls, master cone specimens, which were prepared but
counting the number of sections
adaptation and apical seal were eval- not obturated, was as predicted. No
showing fogging on the autoradio-
uated in 23 spreader-deep and 16 microleakage was observed in the
graphs, thus giving the number of
spreader-short canal preparations. negative controls, which were sealed
mm of leakage in the canal. Teeth
By using radiographs to assess both coronally and apically. Positive
were grouped according to the dis-
master cone adaptation, 13 of the controls, sealed coronally but patent
tance ~:'Ca penetrated into each
canals had master cones that were apically, demonstrated leakage the
canal. None-to-slight microleakage
adapted, and 26 of the canals had entire length of the canal.
was defined as 0 to 2.4 mm of 4aCa
master cones that were nonadapted The apical microleakage in experi-
penetration; extensive microleakage
(Table 1). Lateral space, cones 0.5 to mental specimens is shown in Table
was defined as 3.6 mm or more of
1.0 mm from the apical preparation, 3. Representative autoradiographs of
~'Ca penetration. No specimens
or both, occurred with equal fre- two specimens with none-to-slight
showed microleakage in the range of
quency as causes for nonadaptation and with extensive microleakage
2.4 to 3.6 mm.
(Table 1). appear in Figure 3. Adapted master
The two microleakage groups were
By comparing the master cone cones had extensive microleakage
compared for master cone adapta-
adaptation to final canal shape, it appear in eight of the 13 canals after
tion (adapted versus nonadapted)
was shown that 50% of the spreader- obturation. Nonadapted master
and final canal shape (spreader-deep
short canal shapes had master cones cones had extensive microleakage in
versus spreader-short), using the chi-
that were adapted. In contrast, only seven of 26 canals after obturation.
square statistical test.

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 JOURNAL OF ENDODONTICS I VOL 7, NO 2, FEBRUARY 1981

Table 1 9 Master cone adaptation. Table 2 9 Relationship of master cone adaptation and canal
shape
Radiographic assessment No. master cones
Adapted 13 Master cone adaptation*
Nonadapted* 26 Canal shape Adapted Nonadapted
Lateral space only 7
Spreader-short 8 8
Short of length only 9
Spreader-deep 5 18
Lateral space and short of length i0
*Master cone adaptation assessed by radiographic criteria, Chi-square statistical te~t
*Presence o f lateral space in the apical third or tip of master cone 0.5 to 1.0 mm from apical
P > 0.13 (not significant).
extent of preparation, or both.

Table 3 * Relationship of master cone adaptation and canal shape to apical

microleakage.

Microleakage
Master cone
adaptation* Canal shape None-to-slight]" Extensive~
Adapted Spreader-short 0 8
Spreader-deep 5 0
Nonadapted Spreader-short 1 7
Spreader-deep 18 0
*Master cone adaptation assessed by radiographic criteria.
tNone-to-slight 2.4 m m or less microleakage.
~Extensive 3.6 m m or more microleakage.

The higher incidence of extensive spreader-short canal preparation, re-

microleakage in canals with adapted
master cones was not statistically
different from that of canals with
nonadapted master cones (P >
0.08). In the spreader-short speci-
mens, extensive microleakage oc-
curred in 100% of the canals with
adapted master cones and in 87.5%
of the canals with nonadapted mas-
ter cones. In contrast, in the spread-
er-deep specimens, no extensive mi-
croleakage occurred in any speci-
mens, regardless of whether they had
adapted or nonadapted master
cones. They all had none-to-slight
leakage.
There Was no correlation between
microleakage and the presence of
lateral space, apical space, Or a com-
bination of lateral and apical space
with the master cones in either of the
canal preparation groups. Thus, the
master cone adaptation had no effect
on the extent of microleakage in
either the spreader-short group or
the spreader-deep group. In canals
that were prepared for spreader-deep
penetration, there was significantly
less microleakage than in those with
gardless of the radiographic evalua-
tion of master cone a d a p t a t i o n
(P < 0.001).
DISCUSSION
In this study, visual a n d tactile
criteria were used to a d a p t master
cones to a clinically acceptable fit.
However, radiographic evaluation of
these cones proved to be a more
d e m a n d i n g test of master cone adap-
tation than visual or tactile methods.
Two thirds of the master cones were
radiographically classified as non-
a d a p t e d because of lateral space or
greater than 0.5 m m space between
the master cone tip and the apical
preparation. T h e slight resistance of
the master cone to removal indicated
binding between the cone and dentin
but was not accurate in predicting
lateral fit.
A difference in master cone adap-
tation between spreader-short and
spreader-deep canals was expected
because the degree of taper of the
fine gutta-percha would presumably
be greater than that of the canals
Fig 3--Microleakage of obturated canals, as
shown in autoradiographs of cross sections. In
3A, extensive microleakage of ~:'Ca has oc-
curred in four sections (black area in center of
each section) for distance of 4.8 ram. Apical
section is heavily fogged because of saturation
with isotope (white arrow). Remaining sec-
tions (above black arrow), including most cor-
onal, show no microleakage. In 3B, none-to-
slight microleakage occurred. Heavy leakage
was evident in apical section (white arrow).
No leakage was seen in remaining sections.
prepared with the standardized tech-
nique and less than that of the step-
back canals. T h e u n m a t c h e d tapers
of cone and canal could result in
either an increased or decreased like-
lihood of lateral binding. There was
a tendency for better adaptation in
the standardized (spreader-short) ca-
nals, but the difference was not sta-
tistically significant.
In this study, master cone adapta-

64

tion, as assessed by r a d i o g r a p h i c cri-
teria, d i d not affect the q u a l i t y of the
apical seal in canals o b t u r a t e d by
lateral c o n d e n s a t i o n of g u t t a - p e r c h a
and sealer. In those canals that h a d
extensive microleakage, there was no
correlation of this leakage with later-
al space in the apical t h i r d or space
greater than 0.5 m m between the
cone tip a n d the a p i c a l p r e p a r a t i o n .
O b t u r a t e d canals t h a t showed none-
to-slight microleakage could not be
correlated with w e l l - a d a p t e d master
cones. This s t u d y w o u l d indicate,
therefore, that a d a p t a t i o n of the
master cone to precise r a d i o g r a p h i c
criteria before o b t u r a t i o n is not
required to establish a fluid-tight
apical seal. It m u s t be e m p h a s i z e d
that none of the m a s t e r cones in the
n o n a d a p t e d category were poorly
adapted. All were at least within 1.0
mm of the p r e p a r e d length a n d h a d
at least a slight resistance to removal.
The results of this s t u d y do not
condone careless techniques. T h e y
simply indicate t h a t tolerances for
fitting master cones are not as rigor-
ous as textbooks have indicated.
As d e m o n s t r a t e d in an earlier
study, T the most i m p o r t a n t factor
affecting the q u a l i t y of the apical
seal was the shape of the canal; those
canals that allowed s p r e a d e r - d e e p
penetration h a d little a p i c a l micro-
leakage. T h e force of the s p r e a d e r is
a p p a r e n t l y t r a n s m i t t e d 1 to 2 m m
beyond the s p r e a d e r tip a n d molds
the cones a n d sealer against the canal
JOURNAL OF ENDODONTICS I VOL 7, NO 2, FEBRUARY 1981
walls a n d forces t h e m apically. This
research supports the use of c a n a l
p r e p a r a t i o n techniques t h a t allow
the condensing i n s t r u m e n t to within
2 m m of the apical p r e p a r a t i o n .
SUMMARY A N D
CONCLUSIONS
T h e influence of m a s t e r cone
a d a p t a t i o n on the q u a l i t y of the
apical seal was e x a m i n e d in straight
canals p r e p a r e d with either stan-
d a r d i z e d or step-back i n s t r u m e n t a -
tion technique. M a s t e r cones were
fitted to accepted textbook s t a n d a r d s
by visual a n d tactile criteria a n d
then e v a l u a t e d by r a d i o g r a p h s for
the presence of lateral or apical
space. T h e canals were o b t u r a t e d
a n d i m m e r s e d in 4:'Ca solution. A u t o -
r a d i o g r a p h s were used to assess the
extent of 4~Ca m i c r o l e a k a g e from the
apex. T h e following conclusions were
m a d e from this investigation: R a d i o -
g r a p h i c criteria for a d a p t i n g m a s t e r
cones were more rigorous t h a n visual
a n d tactile criteria. M a s t e r cone
a d a p t a t i o n as assessed by radio-
g r a p h i c criteria d i d not affect the
q u a l i t y of the apical seal when the
cones were fitted to w i t h i n 1.0 of the
a p i c a l end of the p r e p a r a t i o n a n d
h a d a slight resistance to removal.
M i c r o l e a k a g e of canals o b t u r a t e d
with lateral c o n d e n s a t i o n of gutta-
p e r c h a a n d sealer was directly
related to the shape of the p r e p a r e d
canal. T h e r e was little or no micro-
leakage if the canal shape h a d suffi-
cient t a p e r to p e r m i t s p r e a d e r pene-
tration to w i t h i n 1 m m of the pre-
p a r e d length.
The authors thank Dr. Carl Fairhurst for his
assistance in research design, Dr. Kenneth
Hawkins for technical advice, and Ms. Darnell
Beard for preparing the manuscript.
Dr. Allison, formerly a dental student at the
Medical College of Georgia School of Dentis-
try, is now a resident in endodontics at Boston
University. Dr. Michelich is assistant professor
and director of postgraduate endodontics, and
Dr. Walton is professor and chairman,
department of endodontics, Medical College
of Georgia School of Dentistry, Augusta, Ga
30912. Requests for reprints should be
directed to Dr. Michelich,
References
1. Ingle, J.I., and others. Obturation of the
radicular space. In Ingle, J.I., and Beveridge,
E.E. Endodontics, ed 6. Philadelphia, Lea &
Febiger, 1976, pp 232-235.
2. Weine, F.S. Endodontic Therapy, ed 2.
St. Louis, C. V. Mosby Co., 1976, pp 246-
248.
3. Morse, D.R. Clinical Endodontology.
Springfield, Ill, Charles C Thomas, 1974, pp
457-461.
4. Nguyen, N.T. Obturation of the root
canal system. In Cohen, S., and Burns, R.C.
(eds.). Pathways of the Pulp. St. Louis, C. V.
Mosby Co., 1976, pp 144-147.
5. Grossman, L.I. Endodontic Practice, ed 8.
Philadelphia, Lea & Febiger, 1974, pp 286-
292.
6. Moreno, A. Thermomechanically soft-
ened gutta-percha root canal filling. J Endod
3(5):186-188, 1977.
7. Allison, D.A.; Weber, C.R.; and Walton,
R.E. The influence of the method of canal
preparation on the quality of apical and
coronal obturation. J Endod 5(10):298-304,
1979.
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