2.3. Root Canal Obturation
CAVITY
The canals were dried with #30 paper points, a 0.04 taper for Groups 1 and 2, and a 0.02 taper for Group 3, after root canal instrumentation and final irrigation. Using a pressure syringe with a needle, the root canals were then filled with an iodoform-based calcium hydroxide paste (Metapex, META Biomed, Colmar, PA, USA). Additionally, the paste was pushed to just short of the apex with the hand file. The excess paste was scraped from the coronal cavity, which was then filled with glass ionomer cement (Vitrebond, 3M ESPE, St Paul, MN, USA). Finally, on the same visit, a preformed metallic crown (3M ESPE) was selected, high points were adjusted by assessing the occlusion with articulating paper and finally cemented (PCA, SS White, Gloucester, UK).