Endo Condensation Technique

[Ped2thdoc]

I just wanted to know if any other schools teach the vertical condensation technique. Thats all we are taught in Oklahoma. I honestly didn't even know there was another technique until last year!

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[aphistis]

I just wanted to know if any other schools teach the vertical condensation technique. Thats all we are taught in Oklahoma. I honestly didn't even know there was another technique until last year!

I think every school teaches its way as the only technique in existence. We do cold lateral condensation at IUSD.

 

[mg777]

here at UFCD they taught us thermoplastic technique using Microseal. We use the GT rotary system for c/s. We also made a dentoform out of extracted teeth for all our endo. On molars, they only taught us access. How does this compare with undergrad endo at your school?

Pretty sure Im still going to want to take some endo CE courses right out of school.

 

[GatorDMD]

here at UFCD they taught us thermoplastic technique using Microseal. We use the GT rotary system for c/s. We also made a dentoform out of extracted teeth for all our endo. On molars, they only taught us access. How does this compare with undergrad endo at your school?

Pretty sure Im still going to want to take some endo CE courses right out of school.

UFCD has molar elective
they teach vertical and lateral technique. At least way back in 2006

 

[lionelhutz]

We (USC) were taught lateral condensation. That's it. There was no talk of any other technique really.

 

[Ped2thdoc]

What are the advantages of lateral condensation? I can't believe this technique isnt even discussed at my school especially since it seems many other schools use this method exclusively.

 

[12YearOldKid]

We were taught warm vertical but other methods including thermafil and cold lateral were discussed in some detail.

In studies where warm vertical and lateral condensation are compared warm vertical gives a denser, more complete fill -- almost without fail. I wish I could find some of the photos I have seen from these studies; it really is striking how much the quality of the fill between the two techniques differs.

That isn't to say lateral condensation isn't clinically acceptable. It obviously works and it does have some advantages over warm vertical. But by all definitions of the "ideal" obturation, warm vertical produces a more consistent and complete obturation.

I guess the question is how important is it to have perfect obturation when "pretty good" also provides lasting results.

Good topic.

 

[DrTacoElf]

.

 

[Wayne Coronado]

Straight cold lateral, man...

 

[S Files]

We were taught warm vertical but other methods including thermafil and cold lateral were discussed in some detail.

In studies where warm vertical and lateral condensation are compared warm vertical gives a denser, more complete fill -- almost without fail. I wish I could find some of the photos I have seen from these studies; it really is striking how much the quality of the fill between the two techniques differs.

That isn't to say lateral condensation isn't clinically acceptable. It obviously works and it does have some advantages over warm vertical. But by all definitions of the "ideal" obturation, warm vertical produces a more consistent and complete obturation.

I guess the question is how important is it to have perfect obturation when "pretty good" also provides lasting results.

Good topic.

the fact that every post-grad endo specialty program in the country i am aware of teaches warm vertical tells me that this method is superior. i was told by endo director at my dent school that many of the expert witnesses in peer review / court cases will soon be considering cold lateral as malpractice.

 

[aphistis]

the fact that every post-grad endo specialty program in the country i am aware of teaches warm vertical tells me that this method is superior. i was told by endo director at my dent school that many of the expert witnesses in peer review / court cases will soon be considering cold lateral as malpractice.

They'd have a tough case to make if they wanted to do that, I think. There's a different between "good enough vs. better" and "better vs. criminally negligent". The number of successful root canals obturated w/lateral condensation over the past several decades suggests to me that it's not quite dead in the grave yet.

 

[Squished Rat]

Well you must not be aware of the endo program at my school, because they also do cold lateral.

 

[S Files]

Well you must not be aware of the endo program at my school, because they also do cold lateral.

yeah i'm not aware of any specialty program still teaching cold lateral in 2007. what school is this if you don't mind.

 

[Squished Rat]

Unc

 

[lionelhutz]

I think I remember that the endo residents at usc told me that they don't use cold lateral cond. A lot of them use the automatic obturators down there. But the dental students were only taught cold lateral.

If anyone has a good review article or a comparison article regarding obturation techniques, please share. I haven't been able to find a good comprehensive one that is recent.

I don't know why I care, because I really really hate endo. But, it's never bad to learn more.

 

[DrJeff]

This thread really brings up a good topic, what constitutes clinic success in endo??

Take a look at this radiograph posted over at dentaltown:

The Hx is a 72 year old, asymptomatic 23,26, endo done approx. 40 years ago, obtutated with silver points (look that technique up if you haven't heard about it), has a flipper for the missing 24/25. Would you retreat?? Leave alone?? Would modern obturation techniques have prevented the peri-apical radiolusencies???

BTW, for now, I'm a warm vertical obturator. Although I think real soon that I'm going to go single cone vertical with a resin sealer, research looks promsing, and in conversations with my local endodontist recently, he's using that technque more and more these days, with good(short term atleast) success

 

[Ped2thdoc]

IMO- inform patient of RLs and possible implications, document document document, appropriate endo recalls and if lesions are not getting larger then leave it alone (these silver points can be a ***** to get out too).

More modern techniques probably could prevent this as complete obturation of anatomical, irregular canal is better achieved (at least with vertical condensation) than obturation with a regular cylindrical silver point.

Do any of you have the option for completing your backfill with a flowable gp system such as calamus. This system has been a lifesaver at least for me since we got them- a void is virtually impossible!

 

[S Files]

I think I remember that the endo residents at usc told me that they don't use cold lateral cond. A lot of them use the automatic obturators down there. But the dental students were only taught cold lateral.

If anyone has a good review article or a comparison article regarding obturation techniques, please share. I haven't been able to find a good comprehensive one that is recent.

I don't know why I care, because I really really hate endo. But, it's never bad to learn more.

J Endod. 2005 Jan;31(1):37-9.
Comparison of the obturation density of cold lateral compaction versus warm vertical compaction using the continuous wave of condensation technique.

J Endod. 2006 Aug;32(8):762-5. Epub 2006 Jun 23.
A comparison of three gutta-percha obturation techniques to replicate canal irregularities.

both found better results with warm vertical (2nd one was statistically significant, from the abstract i can't tell whether or not 1st one is).

you're not gonna find a prospective randomized controlled study on this topic this stuff is the best you'll get.

again, the fact that every endo specialty program i'm aware of (with the exception of 1) teaches warm vertical must tell you something.

 

[kato999]

Warm vertical at AZ, but we could learn lateral on some of our external rotations. Definitely going lateral for the WREB...