Single Point Gutta-Percha Obturation Using a Tricalcium Silicate Endodontic Sealer

Historically this compression of gutta-percha has been necessary because the sealers were themselves inadequate. They were hydrophobic, dimensionally unstable, not biocompatible, susceptible to degradation, and irritating to periodontal tissue if extruded beyond the apex. Accordingly, these condensation techniques(lateral, vertical compaction, and warmed carrier-based) were developed in order to minimize the sealer volume. It was acknowledged that more sealer meant more shrinkage, more leakage, and more irritation, so techniques were developed to minimize the thickness of the sealer.

In this article, the author reviews the goals for endodontic treatment and the main obturation methods. Then, a simplified technique will be described that utilizes a single gutta-percha point with a new sealer material that overcomes the deficiencies of the older generations of endodontic sealers.

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