title: A new device to test cutting efficiency of mechanical endodontic instruments.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The purpose of the present study was to introduce a new device specifically designed to evaluate the cutting efficiency of mechanically driven endodontic instruments.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty new Reciproc R25 (VDW, Munich, Germany) files were used to be investigated in the new device developed to test the cutting ability of endodontic instruments. The device consists of a main frame to which a mobile plastic support for the hand-piece is connected and a stainless-steel block containing a Plexiglas block against which the cutting efficiency of the instruments was tested. The length of the block cut in 1 minute was measured in a computerized program with a precision of 0.1mm. The instruments were activated by using a torque-controlled motor (Silver Reciproc; VDW, Munich, Germany) in a reciprocating movement by the "Reciproc ALL" program (Group 1) and in counter-clockwise rotation at 300 rpm (Group 2). Mean and standard deviations of each group were calculated and data were statistically analyzed with a one-way ANOVA test (P<0.05).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Reciproc in reciprocation (Group 1) mean cut in the Plexiglas block was 8.6 mm (SD=0.6 mm), while Reciproc in rotation mean cut was 8.9 mm (SD=0.7 mm). There was no statistically significant difference between the 2 groups investigated (P>0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The cutting testing device evaluated in the present study was reliable and easy to use and may be effectively used to test cutting efficiency of both rotary and reciprocating mechanical endodontic instruments.
authors.affiliation: Department of Endodontics, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Giansiracusa Rubini
authors.affiliation: Department of Endodontics, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Gianluca
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Plotino
authors.affiliation: Department of Restorative, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Dina
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Al-Sudani
authors.affiliation: Department of Endodontics, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Nicola M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Grande
authors.affiliation: Department of Endodontics, "Tor Vergata" University, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Gianpaolo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sonnino
authors.affiliation: Department of Endodontics, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Ermanno
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Putorti
authors.affiliation: Department of Endodontics, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy.
authors.forename: Elisabetta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cotti
authors.affiliation: Department of Endodontics, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Testarelli
authors.affiliation: Department of Endodontics, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Gianluca
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gambarini
mesh_terms: D000388:Air; D004708:Endodontics / Q000295:instrumentation*; D004867:Equipment Design; D006801:Humans; D008422:Materials Testing / Q000295:instrumentation*; D055595:Mechanical Phenomena; D010969:Plastics
chemical_list: D010969:Plastics