Comparison of Shaping Ability between Nickel-titanium Hand Files and Nickel-titanium Rotary Files during Glide path

Abstract

 Purpose: Glide path preparation is one use of nickel-titanium (Ni-Ti) rotary files, but few studies have addressed the effectiveness of Ni-Ti hand files. In this study, we compared glide path preparation abilities between a Ni-Ti hand file and a Ni-Ti rotary file.

 Methods: One board-certified endodontist conducted glide path preparation in transparent root canal models. Observations of the state of root canal preparation, centering performance, and time taken to complete glide path preparation were compared between groups prepared using a Ni-Ti hand file (HandFlex; HF group) and a Ni-Ti rotary file (WaveOne Gold Glider; GG group).

 Results: Although both groups maintained the original root canal morphology during enlargement, the increase in root canal width was significantly greater in the HF group for both inner and outer sides (p＜0.05). Centering ratio at 1 mm from the apex differed significantly between HF and GG groups (p＜0.01). Glide path enlargement time was significantly shorter in the GG group (p＜0.05).

 Conclusion: Ni-Ti hand files took longer than Ni-Ti rotary files to achieve glide path enlargement, but maintained the original anatomy of the root canal in the same way.