Comparative Evaluation of Canal-shaping Abilities of RaceEvo, R-Motion, Reciproc Blue, and ProTaper Gold NiTi Rotary File Systems: A CBCT Study

Abstract

To evaluate the canal transportation, canal-centering ability, and touched and untouched surfaces of the root canal dentin after instrumentation with various newer file systems in continuous rotation and reciprocating motion using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) imaging. This in vitro study was conducted on one hundred recently extracted human mandibular molars, which were selected and instrumented using the following rotary NiTi file systems: RaceEvo, R-Motion, Reciproc Blue, and ProTaper Gold. The canal preparations for all four (04) experimental groups were done according to the manufacturer's instructions; the CBCT imaging was done for all the teeth compared at different levels of 2 mm, 5 mm, 8 mm from the apex, before and after the canal preparations. The data thus collected were evaluated for variation where p <0.05 was calibrated as significant using "ANOVA and Mann-Whitney" statistical tests. When the file systems were compared at different levels of the canal i.e. 2 mm, 5 mm, 8 mm from the apex, we observed a statistically significant difference for all the experimental groups (p = 0.021, 0.023, 0.032) respectively for the canal transportation (CT), (p = 0.045, 0.040, 0.037) respectively for the canal centering ability (CCA), (p <0.001) respectively for the touched (TS) and untouched (US) surfaces. R-Motion showed the least CT, greater CCA, with maximum TS, and the least US dentinal surfaces in the root canal preparations followed by RaceEvo, Reciproc Blue, and ProTaper Gold. R-Motion exhibited better canal centering ability, lower canal transportation due to its improved cutting efficiency down to the apex while preserving the dentin of the root canal walls and also exhibits lesser stress on dentin. The newer rotary file systems of R-Motion and RaceEvo described in this study could be recommended for clinical use during endodontic treatment. The newly introduced R-Motion and RaceEvo showed better preparations of the root canal compared to other file systems and could be used as a reliable alternative to the ProTaper file systems which is considered as the gold standard in rotary endodontics.