Clinical evaluation of root canal obturation methods in primary teeth.

PURPOSE This study evaluated in vivo 2 different obturation techniques (lentulo spiral mounted in a slow-speed handpiece and hand-held) in primary teeth. METHODS The study was carried out on 24 children (mean age = 6.71 years) who had received 50 single-visit zinc oxide and eugenol (ZOE) pulpectomies in primary molars. The root canal filling materials were deposited into the canals either by a lentulo spiral mounted in a slow-speed handpiece or by a hand-held lentulo spiral. Evaluation of pulpectomized molars was performed by both authors immediately and 6 months following treatment using specific clinical and radiographic criteria. In cases of disagreement, the lower rank was selected. RESULTS The study found 64% (16/25) optimal filling (if 1 or more of the canals having ZOE ended at the radiographic apex or up to 2 mm short of the apex) when the lentulo spiral mounted in the slow-speed handpiece was used. It also found a 96% (21/22) clinical success rate in the group obturated by the lentulo spiral mounted in a slow-speed handpiece vs 48% (12/25) optimal filling and a 92% (23/25) clinical success rate in the group obturated by a hand-held lentulo spiral. The radiographic success for over- and optimally filled canals, when combining both lentulo groups, was significantly greater than underfilled root canals (P = .009). CONCLUSIONS There was no statistically significant difference between the 2 techniques of obturation, according to the quality of the root canal filling or success rate.