Measure and compare the Degree of Root Canal Transportation and Canal-centering ability of Twisted, ProTaper, and Conventional Stainless Steel K Files using Spiral Computed Tomography: An in vitro Study.

Abstract

The aim of this study was to compare canal transportation and centering ability of Twisted files (TF) and ProTaper (PT) files with conventional stainless steel (SS) K files. Thirty mandibular premolar teeth with root curvature of 25 to 35° were selected. The samples were randomly divided into three groups of 10 each according to the type of files used for instrumentation. Group I was instrumented using TF, group II with PT files according to the manufacturer's recommendations, and group III with samples prepared with pre-curved SS K files using a step-back technique. After preparation, the samples were assessed using spiral computed tomography. Three sections were recorded at coronal, middle, and apical levels. Amount of transportation was assessed comparing with preinstrumentation images. Centering ability was calculated using Gambill's formula. The three groups were statistically compared using Student's t-test. Twisted files showed the least canal transportation and the best centering ability followed by PT file system. Stainless steel K files showed the highest transportation and least centering ability. Twisted files showed the least amount of transportation and better centering compared with the other file systems. The study gives information of TF, a recently introduced rotary system (2008) with regard to its efficacy in preparing curved root canals. This study has shown that the centering ratio of rotary nickel titanium was better than that of SS files.