Obturation and Coronal Restoration
Obturation and Coronal Restoration tests the criteria for filling the canal system and sealing the tooth against coronal leakage.
Core rules
- Obturate only after the canal is cleaned, shaped, and free of exudate, with no persistent odour or active infection.
- Gutta-percha with sealer remains the standard; warm vertical compaction adapts to irregular anatomy, while cold lateral compaction is acceptable where indicated.
- Sealer fills minor irregularities but is not a substitute for gutta-percha; bioceramic sealers require careful technique and should not be extruded.
- The coronal seal is part of endodontic success: restore access promptly, and use cuspal coverage in structurally weakened posterior teeth.
- Verify fill length and density radiographically; overextension and underfilling both increase risk.
Worked example
A molar with a dry canal, no symptoms, and a 5-mm apical stop is ready for obturation. Warm vertical compaction is chosen because the canal is oval. After sealer placement, a master cone is seated, down-packed, and back-filled. The access is restored the same day to prevent leakage. If the canal had been wet with pus, obturation would be deferred and drainage continued.
Traps that cost marks
Obturating a weeping canal; relying on sealer alone; accepting a short or overextended fill; leaving the access open; and delaying the coronal restoration until after a crown appointment.