Assessment of Biomechanical Preparation Influence on Various Root Canal Curvatures

To determine the influence of biomechanical preparation on various parameters of root canal curvature.

A total of 72 tooth roots with moderate (10-25°) and severe canal curvature (26-75°) were selected and embedded in autopolymerizing acrylic resin for which cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) image analysis was performed. Schneider angle, canal access angle (CAA), and the radius of curvature were determined preoperatively using auto-computer-aided design (CAD) 2021 software. Protaper gold rotary nickel-titanium (Ni-Ti) files were used to prepare the root canals. All angular and linear values were measured in auto-CAD and compared using postoperative CBCT pictures. The difference in pre- and postoperative values was assessed using paired samples t-test and independent samples t-test.

There was a statistically significant difference between the Schneider angle (p = 0.002), (p < 0.001), CAA (p < 0.001), (p = 0.001), and radius of curvature (p = 0.01), (p = 0.001) pre- and postoperatively in both moderate and severe canal curvature groups, respectively. This difference was greater in the severe curvature group (p-value = 0.027) than in the group exhibiting moderate curvature. Among the parameters tested, Schneider angle has shown maximum difference pre- and post before and after mathematical processing (BMP) compared to other parameters.

This approach is a new and objective way of measuring root canal geometric changes. The current findings suggest that the Schneider angle, CAA, and the radius of curvature can be used as parameters to evaluate the changes in canal geometry following biomechanical preparation.

Nekkanti H, Enuganti S, Avula JSS, et al. Assessment of Biomechanical Preparation Influence on Various Root Canal Curvatures. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2024;17(2):130-135.