Digital radiographic evaluation of obturation quality in primary molars using two obturation techniques: An in vivo study

Abstract

To compare two different obturation techniques such as incremental technique and slow-speed motor-driven lentulo spiral technique and to evaluate its obturation quality using digital radiography. The study included children aged four to seven years with pulpally affected mandibular primary molars that required pulpectomy. A total of 36 primary molars (8 maxillary and 28 mandibular) were selected and randomly split into two groups of 18 teeth each. In Group I, obturation was performed using a hand plugger, whereas in Group II, it was done with a slow-speed motor-driven lentulo spiral. A digital intraoral receptor was used to assess the quality of obturation and the presence of voids. The data were statistically analyzed. The Chi-square test was performed to compare between groups.Results: Statistical analysis by Chi-square test showed a statistically significant difference regarding the quality of obturation between the groups with respect to the apical seal. Group1 showed more optimal filling than Group 2. No significant difference was evident among the two groups concerning voids (P = 1.00).The incremental technique produced ideal obturation compared to the motor-driven lentulo spiral technique.