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Impact of Reduced Irrigation and Preparation Time on the Shaping Efficiency of the New SAF Infinitum System in Long
Michael Solomonov1, Gustavo De-Deus2, Rebecca R G Frota2
1Department of Endodontics, Israel Defense Forces Medical Corps, Tel Hashomer, Israel; "Bina" Program, Faculty of Dental Medicine, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel.
Introduction:
This study aimed to evaluate the impact of reduced irrigation and preparation time on the shaping efficiency of the new Self-Adjusting File (SAF) Infinitum system in long oval root canals.
Methods:
Thirty-six extracted mandibular canines with long oval canals were anatomically matched using micro-computed tomography analysis and assigned to three experimental groups (n = 12) according to the irrigation protocol: (1) 2.5% NaOCl (4 minutes at 4 mL/min); (2) 2.5% NaOCl + etidronate (4 minutes at 2 mL/min); and (3) 2.5% NaOCl + etidronate (2 minutes at 2 mL/min). Root canals were prepared using a 2.0-mm SAF Infinitum instrument under continuous irrigation. Pre- and postoperative micro-computed tomography scans were used to assess canal volume (mm3), surface area (mm2), and the percentage of unprepared canal walls. Data were analyzed using 1-way ANOVA (α = 5%).
Results:
All preparation protocols increased canal volume (26.4%-32.4%) and surface area (5.3%-8.9%), with no significant differences among groups (P > .05). The extent of unprepared canal walls remained comparable across groups, with mean values ranging from 8.7%-14.7% (P > .05). No significant shaping errors were observed, and no instrument fracture occurred during the preparation procedures. Superimposed color-coded surface models confirmed uniform dentin removal around the canal perimeter.
Conclusions:
All tested protocols yielded comparable shaping performance. Reducing SAF preparation from 4 minutes-2 minutes using NaOCl or etidronate mixture did not compromise the preparation of long oval canals, achieving comparable increases in volume and surface area while preserving a similar extent of unprepared canal walls.
