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A comparison of three methods for preparing centered platforms around separated instruments in curved canals
Mian K Iqbal1, Helena Rafailov, Samuel I Kratchman
1Department of Endodontics, The Robert Schattner Center, University of Pennsylvania, School of Dental Medicine, 240 South 40th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104-6030, USA. miqbal@pobox.upenn.edu
Journal of Endodontics
|January 18, 2006
Summary
LightSpeed instruments best created a centered staging platform around separated instruments in curved root canals. This method proved more effective than Gates Gliddens or ProFiles for improving endodontic treatment outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Endodontics
- Dental Materials Science
- Biomedical Engineering
Background:
- Separated instruments in curved root canals pose challenges for retreatment.
- Creating a centered staging platform (SP) is crucial for effective management of separated instruments (SI).
- Existing methods for SP creation may lack optimal centering, potentially complicating further treatment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the efficacy of three different methods in creating a centered staging platform around separated instruments in curved root canals.
- To evaluate the deviation of the staging platform from the separated instrument using digital radiography and AutoCAD analysis.
- To determine which instrumentation technique provides the most centered staging platform.
Main Methods:
- Green .04 ProFiles were intentionally separated in the apical third of 42 mesiobuccal canals of maxillary and mandibular molars.
- Teeth were divided into three groups for staging platform preparation: Gates Gliddens (GG) size #3, LightSpeed size 90, and incrementally cut rotary .06 ProFiles size 82.
- Pre- and postoperative digital radiographs were analyzed using AutoCAD to measure the deviation of the SP from the SI head.
Main Results:
- A positive correlation was observed between the deviation of the SP and the distance of the SI from the canal's elbow.
- Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) revealed significant differences in SP centering among the tested groups (p < 0.05).
- LightSpeed instruments demonstrated significantly greater effectiveness in preparing a centered staging platform compared to GG drills and ProFiles.
Conclusions:
- LightSpeed instruments are superior for creating a centered staging platform around separated instruments in curved canals.
- The effectiveness of SP creation is influenced by the distance of the separated instrument from the canal's curvature.
- Optimizing staging platform creation with LightSpeed instruments can potentially improve the success rates of endodontic retreatment procedures.

