A MICRO-CT ASSESSMENT OF DENTINAL DAMAGE AFTER SHAPING OF OVAL-SHAPED ROOT CANALS

Abstract

Purpose: The aim of the current study was to assess the dentinal damage after shaping of oval-shaped root canals of lower incisors with SAF by means of micro-computed tomography. Materials and methods: Twenty single-rooted, non-endodontically treated lower incisors with straight roots were included in the experiment. The specimens were scanned using high-resolution micro-computed tomographic imaging before and after root canal preparation with 1.5 mm Self-adjusting file. Preoperative and postoperative cross-sectional images of the teeth were screened to identify the presence of dentinal defects. The McNemar test was used to determine significant differences before and after instrumentation. The level of significance was set at p≤0.05. Results: The Self-adjusting file system insignificantly increased the percentage rate of microcracks in root canals of lower incisors compared with preoperative specimens (p>0.05). Conclusions: The shaping of oval-shaped root canals with Self-adjusting file did not result in significant damage of radicular dentin.

Keywords

• root canalshaping
• dentinal microcracks
• self-adjusting filesystem
• micro-computed tomography