What tool is commonly used to aid in the successful obturation of a root canal?

Lateral condensers are specifically designed for the process of obturation in endodontics, which involves filling the cleaned and shaped root canal space with a biocompatible material, typically gutta-percha. The primary function of lateral condensers is to compact the filling material laterally within the canal to ensure there's a complete seal and that all spaces are properly filled. This is crucial for preventing reinfection and promoting healing after endodontic treatment.

While other tools like endodontic files are essential in the earlier phases of root canal therapy for cleaning and shaping the canal, they do not assist in obturation. Spatulas generally serve other purposes, such as mixing materials, and ball burnishers are used to smooth surfaces but are not involved in the actual process of filling the root canal. Therefore, lateral condensers stand out as the appropriate tool for accomplishing successful obturation.