Dentine Integrity and Shaping Ability of 3 Single-File Systems in Flat-Shaped Canals

Area of Science:

• Endodontics
• Dental Materials Science

Background:

• Flat-shaped root canals present unique challenges for root canal preparation.
• Single-file systems aim to simplify and improve the efficiency of root canal instrumentation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the shaping ability and dentine preservation of three single-file systems (SAF Infinitum, Reciproc Blue, XP-endo Rise Shaper) in flat-shaped mandibular incisor canals.

Main Methods:

• Thirty-six mandibular incisors with flat canals were analyzed using micro-CT.
• Canals were prepared using SAF Infinitum, Reciproc Blue, or XP-endo Rise Shaper.
• Pre- and post-preparation micro-CT scans quantified changes in canal volume, surface area, unprepared areas, dentine thickness, and debris.

Main Results:

• All systems significantly increased canal volume and surface area while reducing unprepared areas (p<0.05).
• No significant differences in shaping parameters were observed among the three systems.
• Dentine thickness decreased significantly in all groups (p<0.001), with localized critical thinning (<0.5mm) observed in specific regions.

Conclusions:

• SAF Infinitum, Reciproc Blue, and XP-endo Rise Shaper exhibit comparable shaping performance in flat canals.
• All systems demonstrated acceptable dentine preservation, with limited critical thinning.
• These findings support the use of these single-file systems for preparing challenging canal anatomies.