SHAPING ABILITY OF FOUR HEAT-TREATED NICKEL-TITANIUM ROTARY INSTRUMENTS IN SIMULATED S-SHAPED CANALS

Abstract

The objective of this research was to study the shaping ability four types of heat-treated nickel-titanium rotary files in simulated S-shaped root canals. 48 S-shaped simulated root canals were randomly assigned into four groups (n = 12): ProTaper Gold (PTG), ProTaper Ultimate (PTU), Zenflex (ZF), and EdgeFile X7 (X7). Each system was prepared up to the size 25. Pre- and post canal shaping images using CBCT were superimposed at 0, 2, 4, 6, and 8 millimeters from the apex to measure the canal transportation. Data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA and Bonferroni multiple comparison tests. Results: In mesio-distal direction, PTG caused significantly greater transportation at 2 and 8 millimeters compared to the other three groups. At 2 millimeters, X7 transported significantly less than PTG and PTU. At 4 millimeters, PTG showed significantly greater transportation than ZF. In the bucco-lingual direction at 6 millimeters, PTG caused significantly greater transportation than PTU (p < 0.05). Conclusion: PTG caused greater root canal transportation than PTU, ZF, and X7, while X7 transported less than PTG and PTU at 2 millimeters in mesio-distal direction.

Keywords: Canal Transportation, Nickel-titanium Rotary Files, Simulated S-shaped Canal