ISSN : 0376-4672
The purpose of this study was to compare the centering ratio and reduction of canal curvature according to the preparation sizes of #30, #40 and #50 using three rotary NiTi instruments which have different shaft tapers. Seventy-two simulated root canals in clear resin blocks (Endo Training Bloc; Dentsply Maillefer, Ballaigues, Switzerland) were divided as following 3 groups according to the file system; the 24 canal blocks prepared with each of ProTaper Universal system (Group P), LightSpeed eXtra system (Group L), and K3 (Group K). The pre- and post-instrumented root canals were scanned and superimposed to evaluate and calculate the centering ratio and reduction of canal curvature. Mean scores of each group were statistically analyzed using one-way ANOVA and Duncan’s multiple range test for post-hoc comparison. The results were as followings: 1. Group L showed better centering ratio, followed by K and P. And all experimental groups generally showed increasing tendency of centering ratio as the apical size was increasing from #30 to #50, except at 1 mm level of group P where showed reducing tendency of centering ratio. The smaller the ratio, the better the instrument remained centered in the canal. 2. Group P showed more decrease of canal curvature at all apical shaping size (p < 0.05) Under the conditions of this study, the shaft design could affect the quality of canal shaping and the smooth taperless flexible (LightSpeed) shaft design was capable of preparing canals with good morphological characteristics in curved canals.
The purpose of this study was to compare the shaping abilities of LightSpeed, ProTaper-Universal, and hybrid technique using S-series of ProTaper-Universal and LigthSpeed. The 72 simulated root canals of J-shape were used and classified as flowing 3 groups according to the instrumentation methods; Group P of 24 canal blocks were prepared with ProTaper-Universal, Group L was prepared with LightSpeed, and Group H was prepared with hybrid technique (initial shaping with ProTaper-Universal S1 and S2 and apical shaping with LightSpeed from #25 to #50). A second-year resident of Endodontic department prepared the resin block canals to apical size #50 (F5 in Group P). The time lapses for instrumentation and the reduction of root canal curvature after shaping were measured. The pre- and post-instrumented root canals were scanned and superimposed to evaluate and calculate the increased canal width and apical centering ratio. The results were as followings: Group L and H showed significant less instrumentation time than Group P (p < 0.05). The ProTaper system showed greater reduction of root canal curvature and working length diminishment than other methods (p < 0.05). LightSpeed system showed best canal curvature preserving characteristics. The Group P had greater instrumented widths at all levels examined (p < 0.05). Group L and Group H showed lower centering ratio (ability to preserve the canal center; the lower ratio means the better canal center preservation) than Group P (p < 0.05). Group H had the lowest centering ratio at the 1 mm level.
