Fluid movement along the coronal two-thirds of root fillings placed by three different gutta-percha techniques

Aim To compare fluid movement (FM) along the coronal two-thirds of gutta percha/sealer root fillings placed by three different techniques. Methodology Three groups consisting of the roots of mandibular incisors were instrumented and obturated by cold lateral compaction (LC), warm vertical compaction (VC) or the single-cone technique (SC), using RockoSeal Automix (RSA) as the sealer. The apical 4 mm of each root filling was removed, and FM along the remaining 7 mm of the root filling was measured. Results The VC group displayed more FM than the other two groups (P=0.023). No significant difference in FM was found between the LC and SC groups (P=0.629). Conclusions The coronal two-thirds of the VC root fillings did not prevent FM when RSA sealer was used.