Effect of different temperatures and penetration depths of a System B plugger in the filling of artificially created oval canals

Objectives. The purpose of this study was to compare the gutta-percha-filled area in oval canals while varying the temperature and penetration depth of the System B plugger. Study design. Seventy-five resin blocks, with artificially created oval canals, were obturated by using a continuous wave technique. In groups 1, 2, and 3, the plugger was introduced to a depth of 4 mm from the apex at set temperatures of 100, 200, and 350°C, respectively. In group 4, the plugger was inserted to a depth of 2 mm from the apex at a set temperature of 200°C. Group 5 was obturated in the same way as group 2, and then an additional cold plugging was performed to a depth of 3 mm from the apex. The cross sections of the obturated canals were photographed, and the percentage of the gutta-percha-filled area (PGP) was measured. Results. No significant differences were found between the 3 different temperature settings (P > .05). At 1 mm from the apex, group 4 showed the highest PGP (95.57% ± 6.86), followed by group 5 (84.72% ± 12.19), and group 2 (67.33 ± 13.03) (P < .05). Conclusion. In artificially created oval canals, plugger temperature within the range used in this study did not affect the PGP. However, the penetration depth of the plugger was significantly related to PGP.