Accuracy of CBCT, Digital and Conventional Radiography in Evaluating the Shaping Performance of a Novel NiTi Rotary System ( An in Vitro Study)

Abstract

Aim: This study was designed to evaluate and compare the shaping abilities of ProTaper Gold and the ProTaper Universal systems using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT), digital and conventional radiography. Materials and Methods: Forty mesiobuccal root canals of extracted mandibular first molars with curvature ranging between 25-60° according to Schneider’s technique were selected and prepared using either ProTaper Gold (group I) or ProTaper Universal (group II). Root canals were scanned using CBCT, digital and conventional radiography before and after preparation for measurement of canal transportation and centering ratio at three levels (3, 6 and 9 mm) from the apex. Results: ProTaper Gold instruments resulted in lower mean canal transportation and higher mean centering ratio compared to ProTaper Universal instruments at 3, 6 and 9mm levels when conventional, digital radiographic or CBCT radiography were used, with a statistically significant difference, at 9 mm when the conventional and digital radiographic methods were used; and at 3 mm when CBCT radiographic method was used. Conclusions: ProTaper Gold instruments are more able to maintain the original canal configuration than did ProTaper Universal instruments considering canal transportation and centering ability. CBCT proved to present more details than conventional and digital periapical radiographs at the three tested levels