INFLUENCE OF OBTURATION TECHNIQUES COMPARED TO THE LATERAL CONDENSATION TECHNIQUE ON THE SUCCESS OF ENDODONTIC TREATMENTS: SYSTEMATIC REVIEW

Abstract

The aim of this systematic review was to answer the question: “What is the influence of different obturator techniques compared to the lateral condensation technique on the success rate of non-surgical endodontic treatment?”. Electronic databases (MEDLINE/PubMed, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Scopus, EMBASE and Open Gray) were searched until March 2021. Randomized clinical trials (RCT), non-randomized clinical trials (ECNR) and longitudinal studies were included. The Cochrane tools for risk of bias analysis of randomized clinical trials (RoB2) and non-randomized intervention studies (ROBINS-I) were used. The quality of evidence was assessed using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluations (GRADE) tool. Of 458 studies, 255 were excluded because they were duplicates. Another 183 studies were excluded after title and abstract reading. Eleven studies were included for analysis. Different techniques were analyzed (vertical compaction, single cone, thermoplasticized, gutta-percha carriers). Clinical and radiographic parameters were used to determine success. In most studies there was no difference in the success rate of endodontic treatments performed by lateral condensation technique compared to other techniques. Higher success rates were associated with the vertical compaction technique in two studies and lower rates in one study that used the single cone technique. Follow-up times varied between 2 months and 6 years. Two RCTs had a low risk of bias, and two a moderate risk of bias. For the nRCTs and longitudinal studies, a moderate risk of bias was observed in five studies, and a critical risk in two studies. The quality of evidence was classified as very low to moderate. Based on the available evidence, there are no differences in the clinical and radiographic success rates of different obturation techniques compared to the lateral condensation technique.