Percentage of Gutta-Percha-Filled-Areas in Canals Obturated by Two Different Core Techniques with Endodontic Bioceramics Sealer

The primary objectives of endodontic treatment are achieving a three-dimensional filling of the root canals with an atoxic, stable material, and creating an hermetically sealed apical area [1]; [2]. The filling of the canals, prevention of communication between the periodontal and endodontic spaces, and the mechanical preparation and irrigation are all essential steps to counteract the defense mechanisms of bacteria [1]; [2]; [3]; [4]; [5]. Gutta-percha, along with cement, has been successfully used, like core materials, for filling the root canal space. However, a hermetic seal cannot be achieved without the use of cement. This is because gutta-percha is unable to adhere to the dentinal walls of the canals, and the cement plays a critical role in filling imperfections and enhancing adhesion [6], [7]. It has been reported that some cements shrink during setting, while others are subject to dissolution when in contact with tissue fluids [8]; [9]. Nevertheless, the amount of cement used should be kept to a minimum, while the amount of gutta-percha should be maximized to the greatest extent possible in order to optimize the filling of the canal [10]; [11]. Many techniques have achieved good adaptability for three-dimensional root canal obturation. One of the first described is the hot vertical condensation technique. Among the more modern techniques, SoftCore aims to fill the canal with heated “alpha guttapercha”, which contains a plastic carrier made of polysulfone [12]; [13]. In contrast, the Guttafusion technique, also a hot vertical condensation core technique, uses a carrier made from crosslinked gutta-percha (hardened gutta-percha with a modified lattice structure) [14]; [15]. To assess the quality of the root canal obturation, techniques such as cross-sectional analysis of obturated canals, infiltration tests, and the combination of both have been widely used. The methodology followed in our study is based on approaches used in previous studies by significant authors [16]; [17]; [18]; [19]. Some previous studies [20]; [21] have evaluated the possibility of avoiding the combination of endodontic cement with carrier-based obturation techniques. However, in our view, there has been a continuous improvement over the years in root canal obturation techniques, particularly in apical preparation, as many studies report good filling percentages and effective minimization of void spaces. Our goal is to confirm the effectiveness of these techniques in root canal obturation by minimizing excess cement and optimizing the space occupied by cement, Gutta-percha and Void spaces. The two core techniques we compare, SoftCore and Guttafusion, will be examined to evaluate their efficiency in cement usage and the quality of the canal filling. This preliminary study aims to analyze two "core" root canal obturation systems: SoftCore and GuttaFusion, using the NeoSealer Flo sealer, and to compare the results between them. The primary objective of this study is to compare the percentage of the Gutta-Percha-filled areas in the canals obturated with SoftCore and GuttaFusion, both with the same bioceramic sealer.