Objectives: To compare apical, middle and coronal quality of root fillings completed by cold lateral compaction (LC) and coated carrier system (GT Obturator, Dentsply, Switzerland).

Methods: Thirty human single-rooted mandibular teeth were instrumented with System GT rotary files using a crown-down technique. Following removal of smear layer, teeth were randomly divided into two groups: Group 1: teeth were obturated with coated carrier System GT obturator and Group 2 (control) with a cold lateral compaction technique. Topseal (Dentsply, Switzerland) sealer was used in both groups. Horizontal sections were obtained every 1mm up to 12 mm from the apex, using a low-speed saw. Digital color images of sections were obtained at 40X under a stereomicroscope and transferred to an IBM compatible PC. Calculation of the area (in per cent) filled by gutta-percha or Topseal was performed by use of an image processor software (AutoCAD). The data were analyzed using unpaired Friedman Test and Mann Whitney-U tests.

Results:The sealer to total area ratio of Group 1 for 1-12 mm sections were 0.039±0.01, 0.053±0.019, 0.017±0.008, 0.04±0.002, 0.001±0.001, 0.004±0.003, 0.009±0.006, 0.006±0.005, 0.007±0.005, 0.01±0.07, 0.013±0.009 and 0.016±0.009, respectively. As with Group 2, the same ratio for 1-12 mm sections were 0.16±0.03, 0.17±0.02, 0.15±0.03, 0.14±0.03, 0.08±0.02, 0.09±0.02, 0.04±0.01, 0.02±0.00, 0.017±0.006, 0.03±0.01, 0.06±0.016, 0.05±0.01, respectively. Except for the 9 mm sections, GT Obturator system yielded significantly better root filling adaptation scores at every test level ( p< 0.01 and p< 0.05).

Conclusion: The tested coated carrier system significantly increased the quality of root filling adaptation in comparison with the conventional cold lateral compaction technique.

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