Safe Mechanical Preparation with Reciprocation Movement without Glide Path Creation: Result from a Pool of 673 Root...

The aim of the present study was to prospectively assess the frequency of teeth in which the Reciproc instruments were able to reach the full working length (WL). This case series study enrolled 277 consecutive teeth requiring primary endodontic treatment performed with the Reciproc system (VDW) without a previous glide path by 3 experienced endodontists. Instruments R25, R40 or R50 were selected, respectively, for narrow, medium and large canals, according to the preoperative radiographs, as per manufacturer recommendation. Canals were instrumented and classified as reaching the full WL (RFWL) and not reaching the full WL (NRFWL), according to the ability of the Reciproc instrument to reach without a glide path the full electronically determined WL. Finally, canals were filled using a single matched cone technique. Pearson's squared-chi test compared the frequency distributions of canals classified as RFWL and NRFWL. From a total pool of 673 root canals, Reciproc instruments reached the FWL in 96.28% of cases and 3 fractures occurred. For narrow canals the percentage of RFWL was 95.37% with 3 fractures. For medium and large canals, the R40 or R50 instruments reached the FWL in 98.51% and 97.62% of the cases respectively, with no fracture. Enlarging of root canals using the Reciproc instruments up to the FWL without a glide path is successful in a great percentage of cases. This case series suggests the possibility of using a single instrument to enlarge the root canal space of teeth by a simpler approach without an a prioriglide path procedure.