The comparative evaluation of temperature changes on the external root surface during the application of different obturation techniques

Purpose: The present research aimed to examine the possibility of damage to tooth support tissues induced by temperature changes on the external root surface while applying different obturation techniques.
Methods: One hundred fifty mandibular premolar teeth were prepared using a ProTaper Next nickel-titanium rotary file system. After the preparation, the distance between the inner dentin and the external cementum was measured at nine points with cone-beam computed tomography. Then, 100 teeth with the closest dentin thickness were included in the study. The teeth were randomly divided into five groups: cold lateral condensation, warm vertical condensation, continuous-wave obturation, thermoplastic injection, and carrier-based obturation techniques. Temperature changes were measured from the external root surface with the degree of intraoral temperature while applying obturation techniques.
Results: The warm vertical condensation technique caused the highest temperature increases statistically, and the lowest temperature increases were detected while applying the cold lateral condensation and carrier-based obturation techniques.
Conclusion: Consequently, obturation techniques may be safely preferred in terms of temperature increases that may cause damage to supporting tissues.