Root canal obturation involves filling the entire root canal system to eliminate pathways for leakage and infection. It is a critical step in endodontic therapy. Common materials used are gutta percha, which is available in various forms, and root canal sealers. Gutta percha is softened with heat and adapted to the canal. Sealers are used to coat the canal walls and improve the seal between the gutta percha and dentin. Cold lateral compaction is a common technique where a master cone is placed and subsequent accessory cones are laterally compacted alongside spreaders to completely fill the canal space.

1. OBTURATION OF ROOT CANAL
SYSTEM

2. Root canal obturation involves the three dimensional filling of the entire root canal system
and is a critical step In endodontic therapy.
Why?????
Elimination of all avenues of leakage from oral cavity or peri radicular tissues into the root
canal system .
If not obturated ,the dead space acts like a foci of infection.
VITAL PULP: SINGLE VISIT
NECROTIC AND PURULENT EXUDATES: MULTIPLE VISITS

3. Requirements for an Ideal Root Canal-Filling Material According to Grossman, an
ideal root canal-filling material should:
• Easy manipulation with ample working time 
• Have dimensional stability 
• Be able to seal the canal laterally and apically 
• Not irritate periapical tissues 
• Be impervious to moisture and nonporous 
• Be unaffected by tissue fluids and insoluble in tissue fluids: not corrode or oxidise
• Bacteriostatic 
• Radiopaque 
• Not discolor the tooth structure 
• Be sterile or easily and quickly sterilizable 
• Be easily removed from the canal, if necessary.

4. Materials used for obturation are
• Silver cones
• Gutta percha
• Custom cones
• Resilion
• Root canal sealers
Silver cones were used earlier and the use has declined nowadays brcause of the
corrosion caused by them

5. Gutta percha
Gutta-percha polymer is a trans-1,4-polyisoprene, obtained from the coagulation of
latex produced by trees of the Sapotaceae family 
It exists in two crystalline forms (alpha and beta) with differing properties. Another
unstable form (γ) exists, which is amorphous in nature.  In beta phase the material
is a solid mass that is compactable, when heated the material changes to alpha
phase that is pliable and tacky and can be made to flow under pressure Beta form
56-64oC Alpha form
Composition of commercial gutta-percha Materials Percentage Function Gutta-
percha
18-22% Matrix Zinc oxide
59-76% Filler Waxes or resins
1-4% Plasticity Metal sulfates (barium or strontium)
1-18% Radiopacity

6. Available forms of gutta percha:
• Gutta percha points
• Auxillary points
• Greater taper gutta percha points
• Gutta percha pellets/bars
• Pre-coated core carrier utta percha
• Syringe systems
• Gutta flow
CURRENT FORMS OF GUTTA-PERCHA AVAILABLE
 Solid core Gutta-percha points –
Standardized - Non standardized 
Thermo mechanical compactible Gutta-percha  Thermo plasticized Gutta-percha - Solid
core system - Injectable form  Medicated Gutta-percha

7. Medicated Gutta Percha:
The iodoform, tetracycline and iodoform/tetracycline combination are bound within
the gutta percha points. They act as a reservoir of antimicrobial that is capable of
diffusing onto the surface of the gutta percha thereby inhibiting the colonization of
bacteria on the gutta percha points and within the root canal system. Tetracycline is
capable of coalescing within the dentinal tubules to inhibit long term microbial
growth. These medicated gutta percha points are site specific, surface acting
antimicrobial gutta percha points.
Calcium hydroxide containing Gutta percha: Gutta percha with high content of
Calcium hydroxide (40-60%)  Chlorohexidine Diacetate containing gutta percha : GP
matrix embedded with 5% chlorohexidine diacetate Used primarily as Intracanal
Medicaments.

8. Resilon:
Epiphany –resin based obturation system
Resembles gutta percha –consists of polyester,difunctional methaacrylate,bioactive
glass,radio opaque fillers and resin sealer
Resilon core bonds to resin sealer which gets attached to the etched tooth surface
following a monoblock. This bonding provides better coronal seal.
And no gaps are seen due to shrinkage.
Custom cones:
Used when the apical foramen is open or canal is large.
Gp is softened in solvents like chloroform and fitted 2-3 mm short of working length
and gently tamped to its length .it is adapted gently until the impression of the canal is
obtained.

9. ROOT CANAL SEALERS:
IDEAL REQUIREMENTS OF A ROOT CANAL SEALER
1. It should be tacky when mixed to provide good adhesion between it and the
canal wall when set.
2. It should make a hermetic seal.
3. .It should be radiopaque so that it can be visualized in the radiograph.
4. The particles of powder should be very fine so that they can mix easily with
the liquid.
5. It should not shrink upon setting.
6. It should not stain tooth structure.
7. It should be bacteriostatic or at least not encourage bacterial growth.
8. It should set slowly.
9. It should be insoluble in tissue fluids. 10. It should be tissue tolerant, that is,
non-irritating to periradicular tissue. 11. It should be soluble in a common solvent if
it is necessary to remove the root canal filling. 12. It should not provoke an
immune response in periradicular tissue. 13. It should be neither mutagenic nor
carcinogenic.

10. Endodontic sealers can be broadly classified into :
• Zinc oxide Eugenol based /non eugenol based
• Resin based
• medicated
• Glass ionomer based

11. Resin based sealers:
Diaket:  Introduced by Schmidt  A resin-reinforced chelate formed between zinc
oxide and diketone, is known for its high resistance to absorption.  Advantages:
good adhesion, sets quickly in the root canal, low solubility and good volume
stability, superior tensile strength  Disadvantages: highly toxic, non resorbable
and forms fibrous encapsulation if extruded
AH-26:
Introduced by Schroeder 1957 It is an epoxy resin based sealer
Powder Percentage Silver powder 10% Bismuth oxide 60%
Hexamethylene tetramine 25% Titanium oxide 5% Liquid Bisphenol
diglycidyl ether 100%
As AH-26 sets, traces of formaldehyde are temporarily released, which initially
makes it antibacterial.  AH-26 is not sensitive to moisture and will even set under
water.  It will not set, however, if hydrogen peroxide is present.  It sets slowly, in
24 to 36 hours  Has strong adhesive properties  Disadvantages: slight
contraction while setting, delayed setting, staining
AH- Plus Available as two paste system • Epoxide paste • Amine paste Advantages
over AH-26 • less toxic • new amines added to maintain the natural color of the
tooth • half the film thickness • better flow • shorter setting time of 8 hrs, •
increased radiopacity

12. Epiphany Root canal Sealer 
Is a dual cure , hydrophilic resin sealer Used with Resilon core materials Dispensed
from a double barrelled, automix syringe Originally it was used along with Epiphany
Self-Etch Primer Now available as Epiphany Self-Etch Sealer [eliminates the priming
step]
The system consists of three parts: 1. Resilon – a thermoplastic synthetic polymer-
based (polyester) root canal filling material, as the major component; 2. Epiphany
sealer – a resin-based composite that forms a bond to the dentin wall and the core
material under chemical reactions and halogen curing light; and 3. Primer - which
prepares the canal wall to get in contact with Resilon and the sealer
Calcium hydroxide based sealers:
The two most important reasons for using calcium hydroxide as a root-filling material
are • stimulation of the periapical tissues in order to maintain health or
promotehealing and • for its antimicrobial effects
· CRCS (Calciobiotic Root Canal Sealer)  Is essentially a ZOE/eucalyptol sealer to
which calcium hydroxide hasbeen added for its called osteogenic effect.  CRCS takes
3 days to set fully in either dry or humid environments.  It also shows very little
water sorption.  This means it is quite stable, which improves its sealant qualities,
but brings into question its ability to actually stimulate cementum and/or bone
formation. If the calcium hydroxide is not released from the cement, it cannot exert
an osteogenic effect, and thus its intended role is negated

13. Seal apex:
It is a zinc oxide based calcium hydroxide sealer containing polymeric resin
Available as two paste system Base Catalyst Calcium hydroxide Barium sulphate
Zinc oxide Titanium dioxide Butyl benzene Isobutyl salicylate Sulphonamide
Aerosil Zinc stearate
Advantages: • Biocompatible • Extruded material resorbs in 4 months • Good
therapeutic effect Disadvantages: • Long setting time • Absorbs water while
setting and expands • Poor cohesive strength
Apexit:
Available as a two paste system Better seal than that provided by
sealapex Biocompatible
Glass ionomer based sealers:
Ketac-Endo: Advantages: Biocompatible Chemical bonding with the root dentine,
hence strengthens the root Less solubility Dimensionally stable Less technique
sensitive Disadvantage: Extruded sealer is highly resistant to resorption [ delayed
resorption] Retrievability is difficult

14. SEALER PLACEMENT:
• Injectable syringe for carrying sealer
• Lentulospiral

15. OBTURATION TECHNIQUES

16. DIFFERENT TECHNIQUES
1. Cold Lateral Compaction
2. Warm Compaction (warm GP)
A. Vertical
B. Lateral
3. Continuous wave Compaction technique
4. Thermoplasticized GP injection
5.Carrier- based GP
A. Thermafil thermoplasticized B. SimpliFill sectional obturation
6. McSpadden thermomechanical compaction
7. Chemically plasticized GP
8. Custom cone

17. COLD LATERAL COMPACTION
• Most widely taught & practised • Sealer considerations • Spreader considerations •
Master cone considerations • Radiographs
· TECHNIQUE Isolation & drying the canals with paper points Selection of master cone
Checking for apical “TUG BACK”
·TECHNIQUE Inadequate fit- beyond the apex • Tip cut off: reinserted primary cone
fits snugly at the WL • Next larger size GP inserted & verified Inadequate fit- short of
the apex • Patency established to the corrected length • Another primary GP inserted
& verified At working length
· TECHNIQUE • Sealer manipulation • Canal coated • Master cone inserted till WL •
Spreader inserted alongside: level 1mm short of the WL- 10 to 60 sec • Spreader
disengaged • Placement of sequential accessory cones by lateral compaction
Endodontic Topics 2005, 12, 2–24
· • Butt end of the GP: cut off with heated instrument • Warm vertical compaction:
coronal GP • Chamber cleaned • Restoration placed

18. VARIANTS ON COLD LATERAL COMPACTION
• Warming spreaders before each use in a hot bead sterilizer
• Softening gutta percha with heat before insertion of the cold spreader
• Mechanical activation of finger spreaders in an endodontic reciprocating handpiece
• Application of an ultrasonically energized spreader
• Application of an engine-driven thermomechanical compactor which creates
frictional heat and advances the material apically within the canal
WARM VERTICAL COMPACTION:
TECHNIQUE • Coronal end of the cone – cut off wih a heated instrument “ Heat
carrier”: plugger, electric heat carriers: Forced into the coronal 3rd of GP Coronal GP
seared off by the plugger as it is removed from the canal .
Vertical pressure with condenser/ plugger of suitable size Forces the plasticized
material apically Alternate application of heat carrier & condenser: 3D FIll

19. Advantages
• Irregularities & accessory canals better filled • Excellent seal of the canal laterally &
apically
Disadvantages
• Time consuming • Risk of vertical fracture from undue force • Less length control •
Overfiling with GP or sealer that cannot be retrieved from periradicular tissues • Difficult
in curved canals
WARM LATERAL COMPACTION
• Warm GP hybrid technique; Martin • Master cone placed • Lateral compaction: heat
carriers •

20. CONTINUOUS WAVE COMPACTION TECHNIQUE
Master cone selected & plugger prefitted: 5-7mm from WL System set in Touch
mode: 200oC Cold plugger initillay placed against GP; firm pressure
· Plugger rapidly moved: 1-2 sec within 3mm o binding point Heat inactivated; firm
pressure maintained: 5- 10 sec Cooled; 1 sec heat application separates plugger.
THERMOPLASTIC INJECTION TECHNIQUES
• Harvard/ Forsythe Institute: 1977 • Obtura III • Calamus • Elements • HotShot •
Ultrafil 3D- 90oC • Obtura II- 160oC
· OBTURA III • Hand-held gun • Ag needles • Control unit
· OBTURA III Canal dried, coated with sealer GP preheated: needle within 3-5 mm
of apical prepaartion Gradually & passively injected; compacted with pluggers
dipped in alcohol

21. THERMAFIL
• GP with a solid core • Metal core & coating of GP • Advantages • Disadvantages •
Obturators: correspond to file systems • Sealer: required
Canal dried; light coat of sealer applied.
Carrier set to predetermined length disinfected Placed on heating device Retrieved
& inserted into canal : 10 sec Rapid insertion: enhances obturation Position verified
radiographically 2-4 minutes: cooling Resection of carrier and then cut it using
therma cut bur
·SIMPIFILL
• LightSpeed Instruments • Apical 5mm GP plug • • Seated & carrier
removed •followed Lateral compaction/ thermoplastic

22. SOLVENT TECHNIQUES
• medium: CHCl3 , Eucalyptol, xylol·
• A small amount of chloropercha is streaked onto the walls of the dry root canal
with a fine root canal spreader or other suitable instrument. • The apical third of
the master cone is dipped into the chloropercha paste, and the entire master
cone is gently repositioned into the canal. • The material in the canal is now
forced laterally with root canal spreaders, making room for additional GP cones
which are added repeatedly in sufficient number to provide a dense root canal
filling.
• Each piece of GP blends with the GP & chloropercha already in the canal to
form a homogeneous mass which conforms quite adequately to the configuration
of the root canal system. • The lateral pressure on the plastic GP– chloropercha
mixture automatically imparts a small vertical component of pressure, owing to
the shape of most prepared canals. • The entire mass moves apically during
lateral condensation with any solvent technique

23. THERMOMECHANICAL COMPACTION
• McSpadden compactor • H- file in reverse • Slow speed handpiece,heat
produced by friction softens the gutta percha
• Disadvantages –frequent breakage of instruments

24. MTA:(mineral trioxide aggregate)
Contains tricalcium silicate,dicalcim silicate,tricalcium aluminate,bismuth
oxide,calcium sulfate,tetracalcium aluminoferrite
Sets in 2h 45min
Sets in moist environment,less solubility,excellent biocompatability and
resistance to marginal leakage
Ph-12.5
Can be used as a coronal seal post obturation
DENTIN CHIP FILLING
Done with H file after claening and shaping to maintain a biologic seal,nearly
1-2mm of chips to block the apical foramen

25. Calcium hydroxide
Most frequently used as apical barrier.used in both dry and moist state
Placed with plugger/amalgam carrier/injectable syringes/lentulospirals
Also has a potential to induce apical barrier in apexification procedures