Intracanal placement of calcium hydroxide: a comparison of two different mixtures and carriers.

Objective. The purpose of this study was to compare the placement techniques of Ca(OH)(2). Study Design. Forty simulated curved canals (42 degrees) in transparent resin blocks were used and separated into 4 experimental groups, 10 canals each. A paste of Ca(OH)(2) was mixed with either water or glycerin and placed into canals with Lentulo spiral or Pastinject. Radiographs were taken of each sample. The canal fillings were evaluated by 3 endodontists and scored as to length of placement and completeness of fill. Cohen's kappa test was used to measure agreement between raters, and Kruskal-Wallis analysis of variance test was used to determine statistical differences between the 4 groups. Results. As to length of placement, statistically significant differences were found between Ca(OH)(2) + water pastes filled with Lentulo spiral (group 1) and Ca(OH)(2) + glycerin pastes filled with either Pastinject or Lentulo spiral. The findings of group 1 showed that the paste was short of the apex by more than 2 mm, whereas the other 3 groups were either at the apex or only 1 to 2 mm short. As to middle and coronal completeness of fill, differences were found to be statistically significant between Ca(OH)(2) + water paste filled with Lentulo spiral group and the other groups. Most of the canals in group 1 had greater than one-half void space at apical third, whereas the canals had less than one-fourth void space when Ca(OH)(2) + glycerin pastes were filled with Pastinject. Conclusions. Ca(OH)(2) when mixed with glycerin and placed into the canals, either with a Lentulo spiral or Pastinject, provided satisfactory results. Pastinject showed better fillings with Ca(OH)(2) + water pastes than Lentulo spiral.