original article Dental Press Endod. 2015 Jan-Apr;5(1):48-54 © 2015 Dental Press Endodontics 48 Evaluation of Portland cement insertion techniques for apical plug confection in teeth with open apex ABSTRACT Introduction: Teeth with open apex hinder biomechani- cal preparation and formation of an adequate apical stop. An alternative to induce apexification is to seal the open apical foramen with an apical plug. Different techniques can be adopted for insertion and condensation of this material. Objective: To evaluate radiographically the formation of an apical plug by means of different techniques used to in- sert Portland cement (PC). Material and methods: Forty single-rooted premolars were extracted, instrumented and enlarged coronally and apically to #140 K file. Teeth were divided into four groups of ten specimens each, according to the technique of cement insertion used to make the apical plug: Group I, gutta-percha cone; Group II, MTA applicator; Group III, Lentulo drill; and Group IV, system of large bore needle. The quality of radiographic apical plug filling made of PC and inserted by means of different techniques was as- sessed. Data were tabulated and subjected to Kruskal-Wallis non-parametric test with individual comparison between groups (Student-Newman-Keuls) (p < 0.05). Results: Group I achieved the highest success rate (80%) when compared to the other groups, with significant difference only when compared to Group IV. No significant difference was found between the other groups. Conclusion: The technique of cement insertion using gutta-percha cone was superior to the technique with the needle system. It also had a tendency to be better than the other techniques. Keywords: Endodontics. Root canal treatment. In vitro. 1 Specialist in Endodontics, Universidade Estadual de Maringá (UEM), Maringá, Paraná, Brazil. 2 PhD in Clinical Dentistry, Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP), School of Dentistry, Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil. 3 Undergraduate in Dentistry, Universidade Estadual de Maringá (UEM), Maringá, Paraná, Brazil. 4 Assistant professor of Endodontics, Universidade Estadual de Maringá (UEM), Maringá, Paraná, Brazil. Contact address: Kelly Rodrigues da Silva Universidade Estadual de Maringá - Av. Mandacaru, 1550 ‒ Bloco S08 CEP: 87083-170 ‒ Maringá/PR, Brazil — E-mail: kellyykrs@gmail.com Submitted: October 15, 2014. Revised and accepted: January 30, 2015. How to cite this article: Silva KR, Endo MS, Yoshida NM, Pavan NNO, Queiroz AF. Evaluation of Portland cement insertion techniques for apical plug confection in teeth with open apex. Dental Press Endod. 2015 Jan-Apr;5(1):48-54. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.14436/2178-3713.5.1.048-054.oar » The authors report no commercial, proprietary or financial interest in the prod- ucts or companies described in this article. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.14436/2178-3713.5.1.048-054.oar Kelly Rodrigues da SILVA 1 Marcos Sergio ENDO 2 Natalia Miwa YOSHIDA 3 Nair Narumi Orita PAVAN 4 Alfredo Franco QUEIROZ 4