Shaping ability of NT Engine and McXim rotary nickel-titanium instruments in simulated root canals. Part 2

The aim of this laboratory-based study was to determine the shaping ability of NT Engine and McXim nickel-titanium rotary instruments in simulated root canals. A total of 40 canals with four different shapes in terms of angle and position of curve were prepared with NT Engine and McXim instruments, using the technique recommended by the manufacturer. Part 2 of this report describes the efficacy of the instruments in terms of prevalence of canal aberrations, the amount and direction of canal transportation and overall postoperative shape. Pre- and postoperative images of the canals were taken using a video camera attached to a computer with image analysis software. The pre- and postoperative views were superimposed to highlight the amount and position of material removed during preparation. No zips, elbows, perforations or danger zones were created during preparation. Forty-two per cent of canals had ledges on the outer aspect of the curve, the majority of which (16 out of 17) occurred in canals with short acute curves. There were significant differences (P < 0.001) between canal shapes in terms of the incidence of ledges. There were highly significant differences (P < 0.001) between the canal shapes in total canal width at specific points along the canal length and in the amount or resin removed from the inner and outer aspects of the curve. The direction of canal transportation at the end-point of preparation was most frequently towards the outer aspect of the curve, especially in canals with 40 degrees curves. At the beginning of the curve, transportation in the majority of canals was towards the inner aspect of the curve. Mean absolute transportation was less than 0.03 mm throughout the curve and towards the end-point, with significant differences between canal shapes occurring at the apex (P < 0.05) and at the beginning of the curve (P < 0.001). Under the conditions of this study, NT Engine and McXim rotary nickel-titanium instruments created no aberrations other than ledges and produced only minimal transportation. The overall shape of canals was good.