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Microcomputed tomographic evaluation of canal transportation and centring ability of ProTaper Next and Twisted File
E J N L Silva1, P T Pacheco1, F Pires1
1Department of Endodontics, School of Dentistry, Grande Rio University (UNIGRANRIO), Duque de Caxias, RJ, Brazil.
Aim:
To evaluate canal transportation and centring ability of ProTaper Next (PTN) and Twisted File Adaptive (TFA) systems using microcomputed tomographic (micro-CT) imaging.
Methodology:
Twenty isthmus-containing mesial roots of mandibular molars were anatomically matched based on similar morphological dimensions using micro-CT evaluation (resolution of 14.25 μm) and assigned to two experimental groups (n = 10) according to the system used for root canal preparation: PTN and TFA groups. Then, the specimens were scanned again and the matched images of the mesial canals, before and after preparation, were examined at three cross-section levels (3, 5 and 7 mm from the apical end of the root) to analyse canal transportation and centring ratio. Independent-samples t-test was used to compare canal transportation and centring ratio between the groups. All statistical procedures were performed with a significance level set at 5%.
Results:
Root canals prepared with either PTN or TFA systems had similar canal transportation and centring ratios at all levels (P > 0.05).
Conclusion:
PTN and TFA had similar results regarding canal transportation and centring ability.
