The Effect of Different Gutta-Percha Tapers on the Compaction Index of Root Canals Obturated With Stainless Steel and Nickel-Titanium Finger Spreaders

Introduction: The most common approach for obturation of roots which were treated endodontically is lateral condensation. Finger spreaders have an essential role in packing the gutta-percha cones. This survey was carried out to compare the compaction index of root canal obturation made by Stainless Steel (SS) and Nickel-Ttitanium (Ni-Ti) spreaders and different gutta-percha tapers. Materials and Methods: Forty extracted maxillary central incisors were randomly divided into four groups each containing 10 teeth. In group 1, the canals were filled with 0.02 tapered gutta-percha and SS spreader, group 2 with 0.02 tapered gutta-percha and Ni-Ti spreader, group 3 with 0.04 tapered gutta-percha and SS spreader, and group 4 with 0.04 tapered gutta-percha and Ni-Ti spreader.  Compaction index was compared among the different groups using t test. Results: The mean compaction indexes for the groups filled with 0.02 tapered gutta-percha cones were 1.44 with SS spreaders and 1.18 with Ni-Ti spreader. However, the difference was not statistically significant. Also, the mean compaction indexes for the groups obturated with 0.04 tapered gutta-percha cones were 1.561 with SS spreaders and 1.269 with Ni-Ti spreaders. Similarly, this difference was not statistically significant. Conclusion: The obturation compaction index was higher when using SS spreaders and 0.04 tapered gutta-percha cones; however, the differences were not statistically significant.