An evaluation of the Canal Master, balanced force, and step-back techniques

Area of Science:

• Endodontics
• Dental instrument technology

Background:

• Root canal instrumentation aims to clean and shape canals while preserving root structure.
• Evaluating different instrumentation techniques is crucial for optimizing endodontic treatment outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the efficacy and safety of three root canal instrumentation techniques: step-back (SB), balanced-force (BF), and Canal Master (CM).
• To assess canal angulation changes, instrumentation time, and remaining root structure following instrumentation with Flex-R and CM instruments.

Main Methods:

• Fifty-three mesial canals of mandibular molars were instrumented using SB, BF, and CM techniques with Flex-R and CM instruments.
• Canal angulation changes were measured using the Schneider technique (ST) and long-axis technique (LAT).
• Instrumentation time was recorded, and root sections were analyzed for remaining root structure and canal diameter.

Main Results:

• Rotary instrumentation resulted in an average curvature loss of 2.37 degrees (ST).
• Significant canal angulation changes were observed with CM compared to SB (ST) and BF/SB (LAT).
• The BF technique was significantly faster (5.5 min) than SB (7.1 min) and CM (8.3 min). Remaining root structure was similar across all groups.

Conclusions:

• The balanced-force (BF) technique demonstrated superior efficiency and potentially better preservation of canal anatomy compared to SB and CM.
• While all techniques maintained comparable root structure, BF's speed and reduced angulation changes warrant consideration in endodontic practice.