Outcome of root canal treatment using Soft-Core and cold lateral compaction filling techniques: a randomized clinical trial.

AIM The purpose of this clinical and radiographic investigation was to evaluate the treatment outcomes of endodontically treated teeth obturated with Soft-Core versus cold lateral compaction. METHODS AND MATERIALS A total of 98 teeth were endodontically prepared using the Quantec LX rotary system with a crown-down pressureless technique and obturated with either Soft-Core or cold lateral compaction. The outcome of treatments were evaluated clinically and radiographically by two blinded evaluators after three years. Statistical analysis was performed using an unpaired t-test and the Mann Whitney test at the level of significance set at 95%. RESULTS Regardless of the periapical status of the teeth, no statistically significant difference was found between the two obturation techniques (p > 0.05). The Kappa value for the interobserver agreement was 0.73. CONCLUSION Within the limits of the study, it is concluded the Soft-Core obturation technique did not result in a significantly different treatment outcome when compared with cold lateral compaction after three years. Further investigations should be carried out on the Soft-Core technique. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE Using the Soft-Core system reduced working time, and the difference was found to be statistically different (p = 0.00056) from the working time required for cold lateral compaction. This reduction in canal filling time holds the potential for cost savings for clinicians while maintaining the quality of the clinical outcome.