The aim of this study is to compare the adaptability of thermoplasticized injectable gutta-percha technique to the canal walls in ribbon-shaped canals.

Thirty resin models simulated ribbon-shape canals were instrumented to #40 using .06 taper Profile systems. Three groups of each 10 resin models were obturated by the lateral condensation technique(LC) and the two thermoplasticized injectable gutta-percha technique; Ultrafil Endoset+Obtura II(EO) and Ultrafil Firmset(UF), respectively.

After resin model were kept at room temperature for 4 days, they were resected horizontally with microtome at 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5mm levels from apex. At each levels, image of resected surface were taken using CCD camera under a stereomicroscope at ×40 magnification and stored. Ratio of the area of gutta-percha was obtained by calculating area of gutta-percha cone to the total area of canal using digitized image-analyzing program. The data were collected then analyzed statistically using One-way ANOVA.

The results were as follows.

1. At 1mm levels, there was no statistically significant difference in the mean ratio of gutta-percha among the groups.

2. At 2mm level, EO showed the highest mean ratio of gutta-percha (p<0.05) and there was no significant difference between LC and UF.

3. At 3, 4, 5mm levels, EO and UF had significantly greater mean ratio of gutta-percha than LC(p<0.05) and there was no significant difference between EO and UF.

In conclusion, the thermoplasticized injectable gutta-percha techniques demonstrated relatively favorable adaptability to canal walls than lateral condensation technique in ribbon-shaped canals except for 1mm level.