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Centring ability and apical transportation after overinstrumentation with ProTaper Universal and ProFile Vortex
J A González Sánchez1, F Duran-Sindreu, S de Noé
1Department of Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics, Universitat Internacional de Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain.
International Endodontic Journal
|January 24, 2012
Summary
ProTaper Universal and ProFile Vortex nickel-titanium rotary instruments caused major foramen transportation and ovalization in most cases. No significant differences in centering ability were found between the systems.
Area of Science:
- Endodontics
- Dental Materials Science
- Biomaterials Engineering
Background:
- Root canal preparation aims to clean and shape the canal space.
- Nickel-titanium (Ni-Ti) rotary instruments are widely used for root canal preparation.
- Overinstrumentation can lead to undesirable morphological changes in the root canal system, particularly at the apical foramen.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the morphological changes to the major foramen after overinstrumentation using ProTaper Universal and ProFile Vortex Ni-Ti rotary instruments.
- To evaluate canal transportation and centering ability of these instruments.
- To assess the shape alteration of the major foramen post-instrumentation.
Main Methods:
- Twenty-eight mesiobuccal canals were prepared using either ProTaper Universal or ProFile Vortex instruments.
- Instruments were advanced 1 mm beyond the working length, 0.5 mm past the major foramen.
- Pre- and post-instrumentation images of the major foramen were analyzed using Adobe Photoshop to assess transportation, centering ability, and shape changes.
Main Results:
- No significant differences in centering ability were observed between the ProTaper Universal and ProFile Vortex systems.
- The F3 ProTaper Universal instrument showed significantly higher transportation in the direction of maximum curvature compared to some other ProTaper and ProFile Vortex instruments.
- The size 30, 0.06 taper ProFile Vortex instrument also exhibited increased transportation compared to specific ProTaper and ProFile Vortex instruments.
- Both instrument systems frequently resulted in an oval-shaped major foramen (71-89% of cases).
Conclusions:
- Both ProTaper Universal and ProFile Vortex instruments, when overinstrumented, can cause transportation of the major foramen.
- Overinstrumentation with these Ni-Ti rotary systems commonly leads to the creation of an oval-shaped major foramen.
- While differences in transportation were noted for specific files, overall centering ability was comparable between the two systems.

