The effectiveness of nickel-titanium versus stainless steel instrumentation for non-surgical endodontic therapy: a systematic review protocol.

Abstract

REVIEW OBJECTIVE The objective of this review is to identify and synthesize the best available evidence on the effectiveness of nickel-titanium instrumentation compared to stainless steel instrumentation for non-surgical root canal therapy among adults. INCLUSION CRITERIA Types of participants This review will consider studies that include adult patients who had received non-surgical endodontic therapy and were followed up for one year and up to four years. Types of intervention(s) This review will consider studies that evaluate non-surgical endodontic therapy using Ni-Ti instruments as compared to the same treatment using stainless steel instrument. Types of outcomes The treatment outcomes of interest will be measured by both clinical and radiographic presentation, i.e. patient's clinical signs and symptoms of the disease and the evaluation of periapical radiographs. To be included, the outcomes of endodontic therapy should be defined in reference to healing and disease as follows: (i) healed: both the clinical and radiographic presentations are normal; (ii) healing: as healing is a dynamic process, reduced radiolucency combined with normal clinical presentation can be interpreted as healing in progress; (iii) disease: radiolucency has emerged or persisted without change, even when the clinical presentation is normal or clinical signs or symptoms are present, even if the radiographic presentation is normal; and (iv) failure to heal: when the tooth is associated with a newly developed or an enlarging periapical lesion or with a radiolucent area of any size together with the presence of clinical signs and symptoms. Conditions (i) and (ii) are considered to be a TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS