title: Glide Path Enlargement of Mandibular Molar Canals by Using K-files, the ProGlider File, and G-Files: A Comparative Study of the Preparation Times.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The preparation of a glide path before the introduction of rotary nickel-titanium instruments is a standard adjunct to ensure increased safety during root canal preparation. The aim of this study was to compare the mean preparation time of manual instrumentation with K-files, G-Files, and the ProGlider instrument to prepare a glide path in curved root canals.
  
  
  METHODS
  The mesial canals of 90 mandibular molars (with curvature angles between 25° and 35°) were selected. The specimens were randomly divided into 3 groups with 30 canals each, and canal preparations were performed by an endodontist who used #10-15-20 stainless steel manual K-files (group KF), #10 stainless steel manual K-file followed by #12-17 G-File instruments (group GF), and #10 stainless steel manual K-file followed by #16 ProGlider instrument (group PG). The total time it took to prepare the glide paths was recorded with an electronic stopwatch. New instruments were used for each canal.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Glide path enlargement with the PG group (27.9 ± 8.6 seconds) and GF group (41.9 ± 20.1 seconds) was shown to be statistically significantly faster than stainless steel KF group (74.9 ± 24.1 seconds) by using analysis of variance (P < .05). There was no statistically significant difference observed between the mean preparation times of the PG and GF groups (P < .05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Glide path preparation times with the rotary instrument groups were significantly faster than with stainless steel manual K-files.
authors.affiliation: Department of Odontology, School of Dentistry, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa. Electronic address: farzanapaleker@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Farzana
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Paleker
authors.affiliation: Department of Odontology, School of Dentistry, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa.
authors.forename: Peet J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: van der Vyver
mesh_terms: D003786:Dental Pulp Cavity / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008334:Mandible; D008963:Molar / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D018915:Root Canal Preparation / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013997:Time Factors
keywords: G-Files; ProGlider; glide path management; preparation time; stainless steel K-files