OBTURATION

DEFINITION
• Obturate : To fill the shaped and debrided
canal space with a temporary or permanent
filling material.
 TECHNIQUES
• Carrier-based obturation — Sealer is placed in
the canal followed by a core carrier coated
with guttapercha or other materials; device is
heated prior to placement.
• Warm vertical compaction — A sealer is
placed in the canal followed by a fitted master
cone. Warmed and compacted vertically by a
plugger to make room for additional warmed
segments of filling.
 TECHNIQUES
• Continuous wave compaction technique — A
variation of warm vertical compaction in
which a master point is placed in a sealer-
lined canal and compacted by a prefitted, tip-
heated electrical plugger. The softened point
is vertically compacted, the plugger
withdrawn and canal backfilled with
thermoplasticized material.
 TECHNIQUES
• lateral compaction — A sealer is placed in the
canal followed by a fitted gutta-percha (or
other material) master point compacted
apically and laterally by a tapering spreader to
make room for additional points.
 TECHNIQUES
• Plasticized technique — A sealer is placed in
the canal followed by a filling material that
has been softened with heat or chemicals for
compaction in the canals.
 TECHNIQUES
• Silver point (cone) technique:A sealer is
placed in the canal followed by a fitted silver
point.
• The purpose of the obturation phase of
endodontic treatment is to prevent the
reinfection of root canals that have been
biomechanically cleaned, shaped and
disinfected by instrumentation, irrigation and
medication procedures.
 OBJECTIVES

• Replicate – completely obliterate the prepared

pulp canal space.

• Seal – prevent contact between oral fluids,

bacteria/bacterial products and periradicular
tissues.

• Control – maintain dimensionally stable/inert

and biologically compatible materials within
canal.
 OBJECTIVES
A three-dimensionally well-filled root canal system does
the following:

• Prevents percolation and microleakage of periapical

exudate into the root canal space.

• Prevents reinfection. (Thorough sealing of the apical

foramina)

• Creates a favorable biologic environment for the

process of tissue healing to take place
 WHEN TO OBTURATE
• Factors influencing the appropriate time to
obturate a tooth:

• Patient’s signs and symptoms,

• Status of the pulp and periradicular tissue,

• The degree of difficulty,

• Patient management.
 Why Obturate Canals?
• Microorganisms and their byproducts are the
major cause of pulpal and periapical disease
Therefore, the goal of three-dimensional
obturation is to provide an impermeable fluid
tight seal within the entire root canal system,
to prevent oral and apical microleakage.
 CRITERIA FOR JUDGING TECHNICAL OBTURATION

• Clinical Evaluation
• Percussion, palpation, periodontal probing
and visual inspection of the final restoration
• Routine re evaluation periods may be 6
months and 1 year
 Radiographic Evaluation

• Length, Shape and Density

• overfilled, overextended and underextended
Grossman’s Ideal Properties of Root Canal Obturation Materials

• It should be easily introduced into the root canal system.

• It should seal the canal laterally as well as apically.
• It should not shrink after being inserted.
• It should be impervious to moisture.
• It should be bacteriostatic or at least not encourage bacterial
growth.
• It should be radiopaque.
• It should not stain tooth structure.
• It should not irritate periapical tissue.
• It should be sterile or easily and quickly sterilized immediately
before insertion.
• It should be easily removed from the root canal if necessary.
 Sealers
• Sealers are used between dentin surfaces and
core materials to fill spaces that are created
due to the physical inability of the core
materials to fill all areas of the canal.
• Types of sealers include zinc oxide-eugenol, as
well as polymer resins, glass ionomer, bio-
glass and silicon-based materials
 Core Materials
• Gutta-Percha
• It is derived from the Taban tree (Isonandra
perchas). The natural chemical form of gutta-
percha is 1, 4-polyisoprene.
• It is an isomer of natural rubber
 GUTTA PERCHA
• Gutta-percha is soluble in chloroform,
eucalyptol, halothane and less well in
turpentine. This property of gutta-percha
allows it to be removed for post preparation
and in the retreatment of nonhealing cases.
 GUTTA PERCHA
• The softening point of gutta-percha was found
to be 147° F (64°).The phase transformation is
important in thermoplastic obturation
techniques
 GUTTA PERCHA
• linear crystalline polymer that melts at a set
temperature.

• The β-form is used in most gutta-percha cones (less

brittle than the α-form) but the α-form is used for
injectable products because of its better flow
characteristics.

• The most practical method is to disinfect the gutta-

percha in NaOCl before use. This can be done in 1
minute if the cone is submerged in a 5% solution of
NaCOl.
 Composition
• Gutta-percha (19%–22%)
• Zinc oxide (59%–79%)
• Heavy metal salts (1%–17%)
• Wax or resin (1%–4%)
 Shapes
• Gutta-percha cones are available in two basic
shapes: the “standardized” and the
“conventional

• Standardized cones are designed to have the

same size and taper as the corresponding
endodontic instruments (i.e., a No. 40 cone
should correspond to a No. 40 file.
extra fine, fine fine, fine, medium fine, medium,
large, and extra large
 Resilon

• Resilon™, a new, synthetic resin-based

polycaprolactone polymer
• Resilon contains polymers of polyester,
bioactive glass and radiopaque fillers (bismuth
oxychloride and barium sulfate) with a filler
content of approximately 65%. It can be
softened with heat or dissolved with solvents
alike chloroform.
 Coated Cones
• Gutta-percha cones with a resin
• Gutta-percha cones with glass ionomer (Active
GP Plus)
 TECHNIQUES
Lateral Compaction
Vertical Compaction
 Continuous Wave
• Continuous wave is a vertical compaction
(down-packing) of core material and sealer in
the apical portion of the root canal using
commercially available heating devices such as
System B (SybronEndo, Orange, Calif.) and
Elements Obturation Unit(SybronEndo,
Orange, Calif.), and then back filling the
remaining portion of the root canal with
thermoplasticized core material using
injection devices such as the Obtura
 Warm Lateral
• A master cone corresponding to the final
instrumentation size of the canal is coated
with sealer, inserted into the canal, heated
with a warm spreader, laterally compacted
with spreaders and filled with additional
accessory cones. Some devices use vibration
in addition to the warm spreader
 Injection Techniques
• A preheated, thermoplasticized, injectable
core material is injected directly into the root
canal. A master cone is not used but sealer is
placed in the canal before injection, with
either the Obtura , or Ultrafil ,Calamus
• A cold, flowable matrix that is triturated,
GuttaFlow consists of guttapercha added to a
resin sealer, RoekoSeal. The material is
provided in capsules for trituration. The
technique involves injection of the material
into the canal and placing a single master
cone.
 Thermomechanical
• A cone coated with sealer is placed in the root
canal, engaged with a rotary instrument that
frictionally warms, plasticizes and compacts it
into the root canal.
 Carrier-Based
• Carrier-Based Thermoplasticized
• Warm gutta-percha on a plastic carrier, is
delivered directly into the canal as a root canal
filling. Examples are: ThermaFil, Realseal
• Carrier-Based Sectional: A sized and fitted
section of gutta-percha with sealer is inserted
into the apical 4mm of the root canal. The
remaining portion of the root canal is filled
with injectable, thermoplastized gutta-percha
using an injection gun. An example is SimpliFill
• Chemoplasticized: Chemically softened gutta-
percha, using solvents such as chloroform or
eucalyptol, is placed on already fitted gutta-
percha cones, inserted into the canal, laterally
compacted with spreaders and the canal filled
with additional accessory cones.
• Custom Cone/Solvents: Solvents such as
chloroform, eucalyptol or halothane are used
to soften the outer surface of the cone as if
making an impression of the apical portion of
the canal
• Pastes: Paste fills have been used in a variety
of applications. When used as the definitive
filling material without a core, they are
generally considered to be less successful and
not ideal
• Apical Barrier: Apical barriers are important
for the obturation of canals with immature
roots with open apices. Mineral trioxide
aggregate is generally considered the material
of choice at this time.
 Resilon
• Resilon is a thermoplastic, synthetic, polymer-
based root canal filling material

• Resilon contains bioactive glass and

radiopaque fillers (bismuth oxychloride and
barium sulfate) with a filler content of
approximately 65%. It can be softened with
heat or dissolved with solvents such as
chloroform.
 Coated Gutta-Percha
• Gutta-percha is now available that may
achieve bonding between the solid core and a
resin sealer. The uniform layer is placed on the
gutta-percha cone by the manufacturer. When
the material comes in contact with the resin
sealer, a resin bond is formed.
 Medicated Gutta-Percha
• Gutta percha impregnated with
• Iodoform
• Calcium hydroxide
• Chlorhexidin
• Tetracycline
 Endodontic Sealers
• It fills all the space the solid-core material is
unable to fill because of the solid core’s
physical limitations.
 Zinc Oxide Eugenol Cements
• The mixing vehicle for these materials is
mostly eugenol. The powder contains zinc
oxide that has been finely sifted to enhance
the flow of the cement. The setting time is
adjusted to allow for adequate working time.
• paraformaldehyde was sometimes added for
antimicrobial and mummifying effects,
germicides for antiseptic action, rosin or
Canada balsam greater dentin adhesion, and
occasionally corticosteroids for suppression of
inflammatory reactions.
 FORMULA FOR ZINC OXIDE–EUGENOL ROOT CANAL SEALER

• Zinc oxide 42 parts

• Staybelite resin 27 parts
• Bismuth subcarbonate 15 parts
• Barium sulfate 15 parts
• Sodium borate, anhydrous 1 part
 Chloropercha
• It is made by mixing white gutta-percha (i.e.,
alba) with chloroform. This allowed gutta-
percha root filling to fit better in the canal

• no longer used as an obturation material

 Calcium Hydroxide Sealers
• These sealers are promoted as having
therapeutic effects because of their Ca(OH)2
content

• Sealapex, RealSeal , Apexit and Apexit Plus.

 GLASS IONOMER SEALERS
• The glass ionomers have been advocated for use
in obturation because of their dentin-bonding
properties. Ketac-Endo enables adhesion
between the material and the canal wall.

• Activ GP consists of a glass ionomer–impregnated

gutta-percha cone with a glass ionomer external
coating and a glass ionomer sealer
 Polymers
• AH26 and AH Plus

AH-26 is a slow-setting epoxy resin that was found to release

formaldehyde when setting. AH Plus is a modified formulation
of AH-26 in which formaldehyde is not released

• EndoREZ

methacrylate resin with hydrophilic properties. When used

with EndoREZ resin-coated gutta-percha cones the dual cure
EndoREZ sealer bonds to both the canal walls and the core
material.
• Diaket
• polyvinyl resin consists of a powder
composed of bismuth phosphate and zinc
oxide and a liquid consisting of dichlorophen,
triethanolamine, propionylacetophenone, and
copolymers of vinyl acetate, vinyl chloride,
and vinylisobutyl ether.
• Epiphany
• RealSeal.
 Silicone Sealers
• RoekoSeal
Polyvinylsiloxane that has been reported to
expand slightly on setting.

GuttaFlow
Cold flowable matrix that is triturated. It consists
of gutta-percha added to RoekoSeal
 Bioceramic
• Bioceramic (BC) sealer is composed of
zirconium oxide, calcium silicates, calcium
phosphate monobasic, calcium hydroxide, and
various filling and thickening agents.
 Medicated Sealers
• Sealers containing paraformaldehyde are
strongly contraindicated in endodontic
treatment
• Endomethasone RC2B, SPAD, and Reibler’s
paste.
 Sealer Placement
• Master cone, Lentulo spirals, Files and
reamers, ,Ultrasonics.
Thank You