Comparative evaluation of canal cleaning ability of various rotary endodontic filesin apical third: A scanning electron microscopic study.
BACKGROUND
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the canal cleaning ability of three novel endodontic rotary instruments and compare with ProTaper files as a control in apical third of root canals under scanning electron microscopy (SEM).


METHODS
Eighty freshly extracted mandibular premolars were selected according to inclusion criteria. Buccal cusp tips were ground to ensure having a flat coronal reference point with a total tooth length of 16 mm for all samples. Teeth were divided equally into four groups: Group I (ProTaper group), Group II (ProTaper next group), Group III (variable taper group), and Group IV (self-adjusting file [SAF] group). Using SEM, the dentinal surfaces were observed and rated at apical thirds with a magnification of ×1000 for the presence/absence of smear layer and debris. Descriptive analysis was performed, and analysis of variance with Bonferronipost hoctest was carried out for comparison between the groups, at a significance level of 0.05.


RESULTS
There was statistically significant difference between Group II and Group IV for debris (P= 0.047) and smear layer (P= 0.037).


CONCLUSIONS
In apical third of root canal, SAF showed statistically significant canal cleaning ability due to combined effect of continuous streaming irrigation with effectively replacing the irrigant from the apical portion of the root canal, irrigants activation through the creation of turbulence, and its self-adapting design to root canal anatomy with a scrubbing motion on the canal walls.
Department of Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics, Sinhgad Dental College and Hospital, Pune, Maharashtra, India.
Ganesh Ranganath
GR
Jadhav
Department of Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics, Centre for Dental Education and Research, New Delhi, India.
Priya
P
Mittal
Department of Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics, Pune, Maharashtra, India.
Anish
A
Kulkarni
Department of Orthodontics, Pune, Maharashtra, India.
Shibli
S
Syed
Department of Oral Surgery, Pune, Maharashtra, India.
Ravikiran
R
Bagul
Department of Periodontology, Pune, Maharashtra, India.
Saina
S
Elahi
Department of Public Health Dentistry, YMT Dental College, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.
Dheeraj
D
Kalra
Adjustied; Filing; rotary; scanning electron microscopy; self; variable