Detection of Procedural Errors during Root Canal Instrumentation using Cone Beam Computed Tomography.

Area of Science:

• Endodontics
• Dental Materials Science

Background:

• Procedural errors during root canal preparation can compromise treatment outcomes.
• Nickel-titanium (NiTi) instruments are widely used for their flexibility and efficiency.
• Accurate detection of procedural errors is crucial for evaluating instrument performance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate procedural errors in root canal preparation using different NiTi systems.
• To compare the incidence of errors among various NiTi instruments.
• To assess the efficacy of cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) in detecting these errors.

Main Methods:

• 100 human mandibular molars were prepared using five different NiTi systems (BioRaCe, K3, ProTaper, Mtwo, Hero Shaper).
• Cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) imaging was employed to detect procedural errors.
• Evaluated errors included fractured instruments, perforations, and canal transportation.

Main Results:

• A total of 43 procedural errors (14.33%) were detected across 300 root canals.
• Perforations were the most frequent error (58.14%), predominantly in mesiobuccal canals.
• A significant difference in procedural errors was observed between NiTi systems (P < 0.05).
• The BioRaCe system resulted in significantly fewer procedural errors.

Conclusions:

• CBCT is an effective imaging method for detecting procedural errors during root canal preparation.
• The BioRaCe NiTi system demonstrated a lower frequency of procedural errors compared to other tested systems.
• These findings suggest that instrument selection can influence the occurrence of procedural errors in endodontic treatment.