Abstract
This study investigated which preparation strategy for root canals leads to the best technical preparation quality, and moreover, which is perceived to be performed best by novice students. Sixty-four students were recruited to prepare one simulated root canal with each of the following: FlexMaster files (F), Mtwo files (M), and Reciproc files (R). After preparation, the students assessed the different instrument systems through a questionnaire. The technical quality of the root canal preparations was evaluated by the centering ratio of the preparation. A total of 186 prepared root canals were submitted for evaluation. With R, significantly better centered preparations were achieved when compared to M and F (p < 0.001). The students evaluated R faster than M and F, and evaluated F significantly (p < 0.05) slower than R and M. M was rated as the easiest system to learn and to handle, as well as the best at reaching the working length; therefore, it was evaluated as the overall favorite of the students. A difference was found between the students’ perceptions and their achieved technical quality of root canal preparations.
Highlights
The overall technical preparation quality with nickel-titanium (NiTi) rotary instruments is generally better rated than root canal preparation with hand instruments [1]
Modern NiTi instruments for rotary root canal preparation have been shown to be more reliable in terms of preparation faults, the straightening of root canals, and instrument fractures [2]
The integration of NiTi rotary preparation into undergraduate education curricula at universities has not been very widespread [4], but studies have shown that even novice operators can achieve better root canal preparation quality with NiTi rotary instruments than with hand instruments [3,5]
Summary
The overall technical preparation quality with nickel-titanium (NiTi) rotary instruments is generally better rated than root canal preparation with hand instruments [1]. Hand instrumentation is taught at universities worldwide as the standard basic technique for root canal preparation. It is a safe technique with regard to instrument fracture, even for inexperienced operators [3]. The integration of NiTi rotary preparation into undergraduate education curricula at universities has not been very widespread [4], but studies have shown that even novice operators can achieve better root canal preparation quality with NiTi rotary instruments than with hand instruments [3,5]. One of the most commonly used rotary NiTi systems in student education in Germany is the FlexMaster system (F) (VDW, Munich, Germany) for crown-down preparations [6]
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