title: Effects of preparation techniques on root canal shaping assessed by micro-computed tomography.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Root canal shaping without any procedural error is of the utmost preference. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to use micro-computed tomography to evaluate and compare the root canal shaping efficacy of ProTaper rotary files and standard stainless steel K-files.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty extracted upper second premolars were selected and were divided into 2 groups of 30. Before preparation, all samples were scanned by micro-CT. Then, 30 teeth were prepared with stainless steel files and the remaining 30 with ProTaper rotary files. Canal transportation and centering ability before and after root canal shaping were assessed using micro-CT. The amount and direction of canal transportation and the centering ratio of each instrument were determined in the coronal, middle, and apical parts of the canal. The 2 groups were statistically compared using one-way ANOVA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  ProTaper rotary files gave less transportation (p<0.001) and better centering ability (p<0.00001) compared with stainless steel files.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The manual technique for preparation of root canals with stainless steel files produces more canal transportation, whereas rotary files remain more centered in the canal.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dental Pathology and Endodontics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Prishtina, Prishtina, Kosovo. mirandastavileci@gmail.com
authors.forename: Miranda
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stavileci
authors.forename: Veton
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Hoxha
authors.forename: Ömer
authors.initials: Ö
authors.lastname: Görduysus
authors.forename: Ilkan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Tatar
authors.forename: Kjell
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Laperre
authors.forename: Jeroen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hostens
authors.forename: Selen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Küçükkaya
authors.forename: Merita
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Berisha
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D003762:Dental Instruments; D003786:Dental Pulp Cavity / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D018915:Root Canal Preparation / Q000379:methods*; D013193:Stainless Steel; D055114:X-Ray Microtomography / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D013193:Stainless Steel