Influence of the glide path on various parameters of root canal prepared with WaveOne reciprocating file using cone...

Nickel-titanium (NiTi) rotary instrumentation carries a risk of fracture, mainly as a result of flexural (fatigue fracture) and torsional (shear failure) stresses. This risk might be reduced by creating a glide path before NiTi rotary instrumentation. The aim of this study was to compare various root canal parameters with the new WaveOne single-file reciprocating system in mesial canals of mandibular molars with and without glide path using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT).

One hundred mandibular molar teeth with canal curvature between 20° and 30° were divided into two groups of 50 teeth each. In Group 1, no glide path was created, whereas in Group 2, a glide path was created with PathFiles at working length (WL). In both groups, canals were shaped with WaveOne primary reciprocating files to the WL. Canals were scanned in a CBCT unit before and after instrumentation. Postinstrumentation changes in canal curvature, cross-sectional area, centric ability, residual dentin thickness, and the extent of canal transportation were calculated using image analysis software and subjected to statistical analysis. Data were analyzed using Student's t-test and Mann-Whitney U-test (P < 0.05).

The mean difference of root canal curvature, cross-sectional area, centric ability, and residual dentin thickness increased, whereas it reduced significantly for canal transportation in Group 2.

WaveOne NiTi files appeared to maintain the original canal anatomy and the presence of a glide path further improves their performance and was found to be beneficial for all the parameters tested in this study.