Search

Introduction: Preparation of glide path is an important precondition for the safe use of rotary NiTi instruments during endodontic treatment. Aim: The aim of this study was to examine the duration of glide path preparation as well as all the changes in canal morphology and canal diameter after the use of hand K-files and NiTi rotary PathFiles. Material and methods: This research was performed on a total of twenty Endo Training Blocks (Dentsply, Maillefer, Switzerland). The glide path was prepared using hand stainless steel K-files ISO #10-15-20 (Dentsply, Sirona, USA) (n = 10) and NiTi rotary PathFiles ISO #13, #16 and #19 (Dentsply, Sirona, Switzerland) (n = 10). The time required to establish the glide path was measured with an iPhone stopwatch (Apple Inc. Cupertino, California). The images of the apical segment of canals before and after glide path preparation were taken under the stereomicroscope (Boeco BSZ-405, Germany), and then images were analyzed and processed with Scopeimage 9.0 (Teleskop, Austria). Statistical analysis was performed with the Mann-Whitney test at the level of significance 5% (a = 0.05). Results: A statistically significant difference was observed in terms of the time required for glide path preparation. The mean total time for glide path preparation was significantly longer with K-files (382 ± 62 s) than with PathFile (200 ± 11 s) (p < 0.05). A statistically significant difference in terms of changing the morphology of the apical part of the canal (p > 0.05) was not observed. The difference in the diameter of the root canal was at the limit of statistical significance (p ≈ 0.05). Conclusion: Instrumentation with NiTi rotary PathFiles reduces the time required for glide path preparation. Preparing endodontic space for rotary instrumentation with hand K-Files and rotary PathFiles leads to similar changes in the morphology of the apical segment. A slightly larger diameter of the root canal was measured after preparation with the hand K-files.

Background/Aim. There is no standard protocol for cleaning and disinfection of used endodontic instruments before their sterilization and reuse. The aim of this study was to determine the efficiency of the different methods of removing biological debris from different types of used hand stainless steel endodontic instruments. Methods. A total of 120 hand stainless steel endodontic instruments: KerrTM reamers, KerrTM files, and HedströmTM files, each forty ISO 25, used for root canal treatment on extracted teeth, were analyzed. The used instruments were divided into four groups based on different decontamination protocols. The evaluation of the efficiency of the cleaning methods was based on the evaluation of the amount of stained organic residues on the instruments (Van Gieson staining). Samples were analyzed by stereomicroscopy (x40). Statistical analysis was performed using the Mann-Whitney U test for the KerrTM reamers and HedströmTM files, while the One-Way ANOVA/Bonferroni test was used for the KerrTM files, at a significance level of 5 % ( α = 0 .05). Results. Residual biological debris was observed on 93.3% of all the samples taken. The thermal disinfectant cleaning method showed the lowest contamination values for all types of instruments. The method of mechanical cleaning showed that the mean value of maximum biologic contamination (MBC) was 58.5% for the KerrTM reamers and 56.2% for KerrTM files, while for HedströmTM files, the highest MBC (50.2%) was shown by the ultrasonic method of cleaning. Conclusion. The use of a thermal disinfectant was the most efficient cleaning method for all three types of hand endodontic instruments.