A comparison of three gutta-percha obturation techniques to replicate canal irregularities.

A split-tooth model with artificially created intracanal wall defects was used to compare three gutta-percha (GP) obturation techniques, cold lateral, warm lateral, and warm vertical. The techniques were evaluated and compared based on defect replication quality as a function of defect location and size. The obturations were evaluated on an ordinal scale, 0 to 4, based on how much each defect was replicated. There was a statistically significantly better result with both warm techniques compared to cold lateral obturation, while there was no significant difference between the warm obturation techniques.