Estimated reading time: 2 minutes
by Dr Chintan Patel, 32 Smile Design, Schofields, NSW
Traditionally, dentists used the lateral compaction techniques for root canal obturation but for the past 10 years, the modified vertical compaction technique has been widely accepted. The Elements IC obturation system is designed to be used with this technique.
What’s good about it
This system comes with two handpieces. One is for backfill and contains melted gutta percha points at about 200 degrees centigrade. The other handpiece is the downpack device with a heated tip for removing excess gutta percha points from the canals and then compacting the remaining part.
This is a cordless system so there are no cables getting in the way. It comes with a compact charger that can charge both handpieces at the same time. The backfill handpiece heats up the gutta percha in less than two minutes so you’re ready to go very quickly.
It works quickly and efficiently with straight canals provided they have been prepared correctly. For curved canals, a little modification is necessary but it still provides excellent results. The backfill handpiece allows the tip to swivel through 360 degrees which makes it easier to use.
I had an older version of this system for over 10 years and it was extremely reliable. We upgraded to this new system recently and I’ve been impressed with its technology and the results
it provides.
What’s not so good
The handpiece with the heating element has a battery that works for a long time. The battery in the back filling handpiece tends to run out of power fairly quickly. It’s imperative that both handpieces are fully charged prior to the patient’s appointment.
