title: Effectiveness of Rotary Endodontic Instruments on Smear Layer Removal in Root Canals of Primary Teeth: A Scanning Electron Microscopy Study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The present SEM study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of root canal instrumentation using both manual and rotary files in the root canals of primary anterior teeth.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty freshly extracted primary maxillary incisors were divided into 3 groups of 10 teeth each. In Group I, root canals were instrumented with rotary NiTi files; in Group II, the root canals were instrumented using manual NiTi K files and; in Group III, manual instrumentation was done with stainless steel K files. Longitudinal sections were prepared and processed for observation under SEM at the coronal, middle and apical thirds. Scoring of smear layer was done according to Hulsmann and the data obtained was subjected to statistical analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Rotary files cleaned the coronal and middle thirds of root canals more effectively. Statistically there was no significant difference between the groups. Lowest score of 2.6 in the apical third of root canals was seen with hand NiTi files.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Rotary instrumentation was as effective as manual instrumentation in removal of smear layer in the root canals of primary anterior teeth.
authors.forename: Priya
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Subramaniam
authors.forename: K L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Girish Babu
authors.forename: T A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Tabrez
mesh_terms: D003722:Dental Alloys / Q000737:chemistry; D003786:Dental Pulp Cavity / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D004867:Equipment Design; D006801:Humans; D007180:Incisor / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008422:Materials Testing; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D009532:Nickel / Q000737:chemistry; D011897:Random Allocation; D018915:Root Canal Preparation / Q000295:instrumentation*; D012399:Rotation; D016369:Smear Layer / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D013193:Stainless Steel / Q000737:chemistry; D014025:Titanium / Q000737:chemistry; D019227:Tooth Apex / Q000648:ultrastructure; D014094:Tooth, Deciduous / Q000648:ultrastructure*
chemical_list: D003722:Dental Alloys; C040654:titanium nickelide; D013193:Stainless Steel; D009532:Nickel; D014025:Titanium
keywords: SEM; apical third; files; rotary instruments; smear layer