The Effect of Temperature Change on the Sealing Properties of Temporary Filling Materials. Ii.

0 NE of the prime considerations in the selection of a temporary filling material is the material’s ability to seal the margins of the cavity within which it is placed. Temporary filling materials are used in many phases of dentistry. During restorative dental procedures, temporary filling materials are used to protect the prepared tooth surface until the final restoration is placed. During endodontic procedures, temporary filling materials are used to seal the access opening in the crown between treatments so as to prevent fluid exchange between the root canal and the mouth. The authors of current endodontic textbooks all agree on the importance of sealing the access opening between treatments, but they do not agree on the material to be used. Grossman,l in discussing the selection of a temporary filling material, states that zinc oxide-eugenol cements are probably the best and that guttapercha preparations, intermediate, and zinc phosphate cements are the worst. He recommends the use of zinc phosphate cement placed over gutta-percha to seal posterior teeth. For anterior teeth, he recommends zinc oxide-eugenol cement over gutta-percha.