Digitization, analysis and processing of dental images during root canal preparation with Quantec Series 2000 instruments.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to determine the shaping ability of Quantec Series 2000 nickel-titanium instruments in the mesio-buccal roots of maxillary first molars and the mesial roots of mandibular first molars.


METHODS
A total of 20 canals were prepared with Quantec instruments, adopting the technique recommended by the manufacturer. Each canal was sectioned horizontally into four and the canal in each portion photographed before and after preparation. The images obtained were digitized and the increase in canal surface for each quadrant of the four sections was evaluated, along with the variation in centre of mass after instrumentation.


RESULTS
Mechanical instrumentation of the canals generated mean centre of mass displacements that did not vary between sections, except for the mid-apical section, which showed significant mesial displacement, i.e. toward the side opposite the furcation. Thus, overall, the widening of the canal was symmetrical.


CONCLUSIONS
Under the conditions of the study, the Quantec Series 2000 rotary system was simple and safe to use, and created good three-dimensional mechanical preparation of natural canals.
Fabra-Campos
H
H
hfabra@infomed-dental.com
Rodríguez-Vallejo
J
J
D016001:Confidence Intervals; D003722:Dental Alloys; D003786:Dental Pulp Cavity / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D004867:Equipment Design; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D008334:Mandible; D008437:Maxilla; D008867:Microtomy; D008963:Molar; D009532:Nickel; D010781:Photography; D018915:Root Canal Preparation / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D014025:Titanium; D019227:Tooth Apex; D019228:Tooth Crown; D014092:Tooth Root
D003722:Dental Alloys; C040654:titanium nickelide; D009532:Nickel; D014025:Titanium