Effect of Remaining Dentin Thickness on Thermal Changes at the Root Surface During Obturation with Thermoplasticized Gutta-Percha in Internal Resorption Cavities

Aim: The treatment of internal resorption aims to remove necrotic pulp tissue, disinfect the canal, and fill the canal system, including the resorption zone. Warm gutta-percha techniques are commonly recommended for sealing resorption defects due to their flowable properties, but concerns about temperature rises during the obturation process remain. This study investigates the effect of remaining dentin thickness on temperature changes at the root surface during thermoplasticized gutta-percha obturation in simulated internal resorption cavities. Materials and Methods: In the study, thirty maxillary central incisor teeth were used, and the teeth were split into two halves. A resorption cavity was created on one root half, while the other half was used as a control. The teeth were divided into three groups based on the remaining dentin thickness in the halves that contain the internal resorption cavity (0.4 mm, 0.7 mm, and 1 mm). Temperature changes during the thermoplastic gutta-percha obturation were measured using thermocouples. A paired samples t-test was used to assess the differences between the resorptive and control surfaces, and a one-way ANOVA test was applied to evaluate the temperature variations across the groups. Results: Statistically significant temperature differences between the resorption and control surfaces were observed in all groups, but no significant differences were found among the three dentin thickness groups. Conclusion: The study concludes that internal resorption cavities lead to higher temperature transmission at the root surface during thermoplasticized gutta-percha obturation, regardless of dentin thickness. However, no significant differences in temperature were observed among different dentin thicknesses.