title: A comparison of root canal preparations using Ni-Ti hand, Ni-Ti engine-driven, and K-Flex endodontic instruments.
abstract: This study used a modified Bramante technique and new digital subtraction software to compare root canals prepared by nickel-titanium (Ni-Ti) hand, Ni-Ti engine-driven, and stainless steel hand endodontic instruments. Sixty mesial canals of extracted human mandibular molars were randomly divided into five groups. The roots were embedded in clear resin and cross-sectioned in the apical and mid-root areas. In group A, canals were instrumented using a quarter turn/pull technique with K-Flex files. In group B, canals were prepared with Ni-Ti hand files (Mity files) using the same technique as in group A. Group C was prepared with NT Sensor engine-driven files. Group D canals were prepared with Ni-Ti Canal Master "U" hand instruments. Group E was prepared with engine-driven Ni-Ti Lightspeed instruments. Digitized images of the uninstrumented canals were compared with images of the instrumented canals. Engine-driven Ni-Ti instruments (Lightspeed and NT Sensor file) and hand instrumentation with the Canal Master "U" caused significantly less canal transportation (p < 0.05), remained more centered in the canal (p < 0.05), removed less dentin (p < 0.05), and produced rounder canal preparations than K-Flex and Mity files. Engine instrumentation with Lightspeed and NT Sensor file was significantly faster than hand instrumentation (p < 0.05).
authors.affiliation: Department of Endodontics, Wilford Hall USAF Medical Center, Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, USA.
authors.forename: C R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Glossen
authors.forename: R H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Haller
authors.forename: S B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Dove
authors.forename: C E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: del Rio
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D003786:Dental Pulp Cavity / Q000473:pathology; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D006801:Humans; D008963:Molar; D009532:Nickel; D015588:Observer Variation; D011856:Radiographic Image Enhancement; D018915:Root Canal Preparation / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D013193:Stainless Steel; D013382:Subtraction Technique; D014025:Titanium
chemical_list: C040654:titanium nickelide; D013193:Stainless Steel; D009532:Nickel; D014025:Titanium