Comparative micro-computed tomography evaluation of apical root canal transportation with the use of ProTaper, RaCe and Safesider systems in human teeth

The aim of this study was to compare apical centring ability of nickel titanium (NiTi) ProTaper, RaCe and mainly stainless steel Safesider systems using micro-computed tomography. Thirty freshly extracted mandibular molars with two separate mesial canals and separate foramina were used for the study. Mesial roots were embedded in acrylic resin and instrumented with the ProTaper, RaCe or Safesider systems. Root canal transportation and centring ability of the instruments were evaluated using superimposed micro-computed tomography images of the apical 4 mm of the roots taken at 1 mm intervals. One-way analysis of variance and post hoc Tukey's tests were performed to compare apical transportations. Significant differences were observed between groups at the apical 1, 2 and 3 mm levels (P < 0.05). The reciprocating Safesider system transported root canals significantly more than the other two NiTi systems in the apical 1 mm level (P = 0.001) and more than RaCe system in the apical 2 mm level (P = 0.003). The ProTaper instruments caused more apical root canal transportation than did RaCe instruments at apical 3 mm (P = 0.045). NiTi instrumentation systems showed better centring ability than the mainly stainless steel Safesider system because of the flexible structure of the NiTi alloy.