The shaping effects of three nickel-titanium rotary instruments in simulated S-shaped canals.
The purpose of this study was to compare the shaping effects of three nickel-titanium rotary instruments, ProTaper, K3, and RaCe, with emphasis on canal transportation. Simulated canals with an S-shaped curvature in clear resin blocks were prepared with a torque-control, low-speed engine. Canals were prepared using the crown-down technique to the size of #30. Canal aberrations were assessed by comparing the pre- and postinstrumentation images under a stereomicroscope. ProTaper instruments caused greater widening of canals compared to K3 or RaCe. Furthermore, ProTaper files showed a tendency to ledge or zip formation at the end-point of preparation. These canal aberrations may be caused by ProTaper finishing files, which appear to be less flexible than other files of the same tip-size, because of their greater taper-size. These results suggest that nickel-titanium file systems including less tapered, more flexible instruments, like K3 and RaCe should be used in the apical preparation of canals with a complicated curvature.
Yoshimine
Y
Y
Department of Endodontology and Operative Dentistry, Division of Oral Rehabilitation, Faculty of Dental Science, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan. yoshimin@dent.kyushu-u.ac.jp
Ono
M
M
Akamine
A
A
D003722:Dental Alloys; D003762:Dental Instruments; D003786:Dental Pulp Cavity / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D006801:Humans; D003765:Models, Dental; D009532:Nickel; D018915:Root Canal Preparation / Q000295:instrumentation*; D014025:Titanium; D019227:Tooth Apex / Q000033:anatomy & histology*
D003722:Dental Alloys; C040654:titanium nickelide; D009532:Nickel; D014025:Titanium