Changes in Geometry and Transportation of Root Canals with Severe Curvature Prepared by Different Heat-treated Nickel-titanium Instruments: A Micro-computed Tomographic Study.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to compare the shaping ability of 4 different nickel-titanium systems, considering their variation in alloy treatment, kinematics, and design, used to prepare canals with severe curvature using micro-computed tomographic analysis.

METHODS: Thirty-two mesial roots of mandibular molars with severe curvature were matched based on similar morphologic dimensions and assigned to 4 experimental groups (n = 8) according to the canal preparation: ProTaper Next (PTN; Dentsply Maillefer, Ballaigues, Switzerland), Reciproc (RC; VDW GmbH, Munich, Germany), Reciproc Blue (RCB, VDW GmbH), and TRUShape (TRU; Dentsply Tulsa Dental Specialties, Tulsa, OK) systems. Changes in 2-dimensional (area and perimeter) and 3-dimensional (volume, surface area, and structure model index) morphologic parameters as well as canal transportation were compared among groups using the analysis of variance post hoc Tukey tests with the significance level set at 5%.

RESULTS: Preparation significantly increased all analyzed parameters. No statistically significant differences (P > .05) were observed between RC and RCB or between PTN and TRS in any of the analyzed parameters. In the cervical third, RC and RCB presented higher mean increases than PTN and TRU. In the apical third, there were no statistically significant differences (P > .05) among the systems.

CONCLUSIONS: The instruments of greater taper may promote greater morphologic changes. However, regardless of the number of instruments (multiple or single), the type of movement (rotation or reciprocating), the type of heat treatment of alloys, and the particular characteristics of each instrument (taper and design), the evaluated systems did not result in different dimensional changes and canal transportation in the critical apical area.