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Filling the canals


There are various ways to fill the prepared and cleansed canals. All methods have in common that some small steps are required leading to a result as predictable as possible.

Method 1, System B in combination with Obtura II(a warm filling technique)

A gutta-percha point with a size similar to the main file (the thickest file yet reaching a certain required length), is fitted in the canal in order to check if the point completely comes to length. Then, a plugger of System B is selected which gets locked at about 5 mm from the apex (binding point). Now cement (AH26, AHplus or Topseal) is put into the canal. This can e.g. be done with a finger plugger, hand plugger , file or a paperpoint. Now, the selected gutta-percha point is brought into the canal up to the right length (exactly the number of millimetres of the main file’s length). It is advisable that the gutta-percha point has some friction when it is tugged back somewhat with a pair of tweezers. Now, in a smooth movement the plugger of System B (at a temperature of 200 – 220 degrees) is placed into the canal until about one mm from the point where it got locked (binding point). This will last for about two seconds. Now the plugger (without heating) is held on its place with a light pressure to apical during about 8 seconds. Then, the temperature of the plugger is reduced to 200 degrees and pressed a little bit farther into the canal (until the binding point). After that, the plugger is removed from the canal in a smooth, somewhat turning movement. The plugger should at least have a high temperature for 2 seconds, otherwise there is a risk that also the apical gutta-percha is pulled out. Now the still mouldable gutta-percha is condensed vertically until it has cooled off a little bit. Then Obtura II’s needle of the Gutta-percha pistol is placed into the canal up to the present condensed gutta-percha. The surface of the gutta-percha is getting mouldable now because Obtura II’s needle is about 100 degrees at the tip. Under dosed pressure gutta-percha is now sprayed in the canal with help of the pistol. The pressure of the gutta-percha pushes – as it were – the needle out of the canal. As the apical gutta-percha has become mouldable, the gutta-percha from the pistol now perfectly flows together with it. Once the canal has been filled, the gutta-percha with hand pluggers is postcondensed, until it has cooled off. For a four canal element the complete above described filling method takes less than 5 minutes.

Method 2, Carrier borne gutta-percha (Thermafil).

There are two ways to put in cement before an Obturator is placed. Because the canal entrance is closed directly, pressure towards apical arises.

  1. Cement is applied around the canal entrance. When placing the Obturator to the apical, sufficient cement is pressed forward in the direction of the gutta-percha.
  2. A small amount of cement is put at the canal wall with the aid of paper point, a file or a hand plugger. After that, the Obturator is placed.
The procedure is as follows:
  • the canal’s length should match the length at gutta-percha at the Obturator (too much gutta-percha will coronally be taken from the Obturator. This way you prevent that the pulpa chamber is filled completely with gutta-percha.)
  • the rubber stopper on the Obturator is fixed at the main file’s length.
  • the gutta-percha at the tip of the Obturator is cut down (ca 1 mm) until the plastic carrier.
  • the Obturator is warmed up in a small oven.
  • In approximately 4 seconds the Obturator is put in the canal.
  • Now the Obturator is kept under light pressure during abt. 10 seconds to compensate shrinkage.
  • the excess until the canal entrance is removed with a Thema-cut drill
  • or a heat carrier .



From this page you can order in our web shop


  • Gutta-percha style
  • Hand plugger
  • Obtura II
  • Obturator (Thermafil)
  • Paper-Points
  • System B
  • Heatcarrier (Buchanan plugger)
  • Thermafil oven
  • Therma-cut drill
  • Files

to last chapter: Cleaning and shaping of the apical part of the root canals
to next chapter: Where, why, how to prevent and what to do in case of fracture of rotating instrumentarium

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