Ex-vivo area-metric analysis of root canal obturation using gutta-percha cones of different taper

To evaluate the percentage of gutta-percha and sealer-filled canal area when four different types of master gutta-percha cones were used. Sixty mandibular premolars with straight canals were instrumented using System ProTaper rotary instruments with a crown-down technique and assigned to four groups. Canals were obturated with AH-26 sealer either using lateral condensation and 0.02 taper gutta-percha cones (group A), 0.04 taper gutta-percha cones (group B), nonstandardized F- medium (group C) master gutta-percha cones, or a single System ProTaper gutta-percha cone (group D). The percentage of gutta-percha and sealer-filled area was calculated in horizontal sections of the apical portion of each canal, using image analysis software. The data was statistically analysed using Kruskal-Wallis test. The distribution of filling materials amongst groups was not significantly different at each level of sectioning (P > 0.05). The percentage of gutta-percha and sealer-filled canal area was similar when canals were filled with different master cones using lateral condensation or single cone techniques.