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Scanning Electron Microscopic Evaluation of Surface Defects of Remover Retreatment File After Single and Multiple Uses
Published on: October 11, 2024
Characterisation of deformed or separated nickel-titanium retreatment instruments after clinical use - A multicentre
He Liu1, Kiarash Shabehpour2, Zhejun Wang2
1Department of Stomatology, Affiliated Hospital of Jining Medical University, China; Division of Endodontics, Department of Oral Biological and Medical Sciences, Faculty of Dentistry, University of British Columbia, Canada.
Objectives:
The present study examined the defect characteristics of clinically-used, discarded nickel titanium rotary retreatment instruments and analysed the impact of clinical use on their metallurgical properties.
Methods:
92 XP-endo Shaper (XPS; FKG Dentaire) and 20 XP-endo Finisher (XPFR; FKG Dentaire) instruments with structural deformation or separation were collected after retreatment from four endodontic clinics over a 20-month period. The types of defects and their relative locations were recorded. The lateral and fractured surfaces of the separated instruments were examined with scanning electron microscopy. Differential scanning calorimetry was used to investigate the thermal behaviour of new, deformed and fractured instruments.
Results:
77 (84%) XPS and 4 (20%) XPFR had an area with structural change while 15 (16%) XPS and 16 (80%) XPFR were fractured. All unfractured, deformed XPFR showed unwinding close to the coronal end of the flute. Fractures in XPS and XPFR were often close to the coronal end of the flutes or the expanding segments of the insruments. Most of the XPS fractures were torsional failure (67%) while XPFR failed predominantly by cyclic fatigue (81%). The austenite-finishing temperature of XPFR (40 °C) was higher than that of XPS (35 °C). Both XPS and XPFR exhibited 2-stage phase transformations.
Conclusions:
Torsional failure was more prevalent in XPS instruments and fatigue failure was more prevalent in XPFR instruments. amongst the investigated instruments, XPFR were more likely to separate without warning whereas XPS frequently exhibited plastic deformation. The latter may be used as a pre-separation forewarning sign during clinical retreatment.
Clinical Significance:
The failure mode of XP-endo Shaper and XP-endo Finisher used clinically for retreatment appeared to be different. Plastic deformation, the forewarning sign of instrument seaparation, occurs when XP-endo instruments are used for retreatment.
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