Obturation Material
Any substance used to fill and seal the cleaned and shaped root canal system following pulp removal, of which gutta-percha is the most widely used core material.
Full Definition
Obturation materials must satisfy criteria including dimensional stability, biocompatibility, impermeability to fluids, and ease of removal if retreatment is necessary. In addition to gutta-percha, obturation materials include synthetic polymer-based points (e.g., Resilon), thermoplasticised carriers (e.g., Thermafil), and hydraulic sealers used alone or in combination. Editors should distinguish 'obturation material' from 'root canal sealer': the former refers to the core filling material, while the latter refers to the cementing agent used alongside core materials. Confusion between these terms in manuscripts can misrepresent study methodologies.
Usage
Usage note: Do not conflate with 'root canal sealer', which is the cementing agent, not the core fill.
In Context
- "The study evaluated three obturation materials for their apical sealing ability." — Research article abstract
- "Editors should verify that 'obturation material' and 'sealer' are not used interchangeably in the methods section." — Manuscript review note