A comparative study on the shaping ability of k3, profile and protaper instruments in simulated curved root canals.
BACKGROUND
The objective of this study was to compare the shaping ability of three rotary filing systems; constant taper K3 instruments, constant taper ProFile instruments and progressive taper ProTaper rotary instruments in clear resin blocks with simulated curved root canals.


METHODS
Forty five resin blocks were divided into three groups. Group A preparation was conducted with K3, Group B with ProFile and Group C with ProTaper instruments. Pre and post instrumentation images were superimposed and assessment of the canal shape was completed with a computer image analysis program at 14 levels of the root canal system.


RESULTS
Group A inner and outer curvature pre and post instrumentation values were significantly different (P<0.05) at levels 3; at level 13 only the outer curvature and levels 6, 7, 8 the inner curvature had significantly different values between pre and post instrumentation. Group C had significant P values (P<0.05) at levels 2, 3, 4, 12, 13 in the outer curvature and at levels 6, 7, 8 of the inner curvature.


CONCLUSIONS
Overall, all three rotary instruments maintained root canal curvatures well. ProTaper instruments significantly removed more resin material from outer canal curvature in the apical third when compared to the other two groups.
Department of Endodontics, Department of Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics, Narayana Dental College and Hospital, India.
Chinni
C
Suneelkumar
Department of Endodontics, Department of Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics, Ragas Dental College and Hospital, India.
Chellaswamy
C
Savarimalai Karumaran
Department of Endodontics, Department of Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics, Ragas Dental College and Hospital, India.
Sundararaman
S
Ramachandran
Department of Endodontics, Department of Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics, Ragas Dental College and Hospital, India.
Rajamani
R
Indira
Department of Endodontics, Department of Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics, Ragas Dental College and Hospital, India.
Padmabhan
P
Shankar
Department of Endodontics, Department of Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics, Ragas Dental College and Hospital, India.
Anil
A
Kumar
Endodontic Handpieces; Nickel-Titanium; Resin Blocks; Root Canal; Root Canal Shaping