The purpose of this study is to evaluate the two warm gutta-percha filling techniques by measuring the weight changes of resin blocks before and after canal filling in ribbon shaped canal. Simulated ribbon shaped root canals in 30 transparent resin blocks were instrumented to #40 using .06 taper Profile. 15 resin blocks were obturated with gutta-percha using cold lateral condensation. Warm lateral condensation using the Endotec II was then accomplished on the same 15 blocks. Another 15 resin blocks were obturated using the System B. All canals were obturated without sealer. The resin blocks were weighed after canal preparation and after each subsequent obturation, and then weight changes of the resin blocks were calculated.

The results were as follows.

1. Warm lateral condensation using Endotec II and continuous wave of condensation using System B produced a denser obturation of gutta-percha compared with conventional cold lateral condensation (p<0.01).

2. There was no significant difference between warm lateral condensation and continuous wave condensation.

In conclusion, the warm gutta-percha condensation techniques like warm lateral condensation and continuous wave condensation can be expected to bring favorable canal obturation results in ribbon shaped canals.