Objectives:To assess the ability of warm vertical condensation and GuttaFlow system to obturate the mesial roots of mandibular molar teeth using micro computed tomography. Methods:20 mandibular molar teeth were prepared with ProTaper rotary files to a F2 master apical file, 0.5mm short of the apical foramen. 10 teeth had the mesial roots obturated using the warm vertical condensation technique, 10 teeth had the mesial roots obturated using the GuttaFlow and mono gutta percha cone obturation technique. A SkyScan 1072 unit was used to scan the apical 7mm of the 20 roots. The SkyScan CT Analyser software was used to determine the volume of the root canals and the volume of any voids present. The time taken to obturate the root canals of the mesial roots was also recorded. Results: Warm vertical condensation filled a significantly greater proportion of the root canal than the GuttaFlow technique in the coronal 3mm of the observed portions of the root canal (3-4 mm from apex; p = 0.019, 4-5 mm from apex; p = 0.014, 5-6 mm from apex; p = 0.003, 6-7 mm from apex; p = 0.027). The results of the statistical analysis has shown that the obturation of the root canals in the warm vertical condensation group was achieved in a significantly longer working time (mean t = 212.2 s) than the root canals in the Guttaflow group (mean t = 134.4 s). Conclusions: The warm vertical condensation technique was able to obturate a statistically significant greater proportion of the root canal system than the GuttaFlow technique. There was no statistical difference between the two techniques in the apical 3mm of the roots. Both techniques had greater proportions of the root canals filled in more coronal section than in the apical section of the roots.

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