• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.6-11
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• 2016

Objectives: The purpose of this in vitro study was to evaluate the accuracy of working length (WL) determination of four electronic apex locators (EALs), namely, Root ZX (RZX), Elements diagnostic unit and apex locator (ELE), SybronEndo Mini Apex locator (MINI) and Propex pixi (PIXI) using Stainless steel (SS) and nickel-titanium (NiTi) hand files. The null hypothesis was that there was no difference between canal length determination by SS and NiTi files of 4 EALs. Materials and Methods: Sixty extracted, single rooted human teeth were decoronated and the canal orifice flared. The actual length (AL) was assessed visually, and the teeth were embedded in an alginate model. The electronic length (EL) measurements were recorded with all four EALs using SS and NiTi files at '0.5' reading on display. The differences between the AL and EL were compared. Results: The results obtained with each EAL with SS and NiTi files were compared with AL. A paired sample t test showed that there was a statistical significant difference between EAL readings with SS and NiTi files for RZX and MINI (p < 0.05). The accuracy of RZX, ELE, MINI and PIXI within ${\pm}0.5 mm$ of AL with SS/NiTi files were 93.3%/70%, 90%/91.7%, 95%/68.3%, and 83.3%/83.3%, respectively. Conclusions: The results of this study indicate that Root ZX was statistically more accurate with NiTi files compared to SS files, while MINI was statistically more accurate with SS files compared to NiTi files. ELE and PIXI were not affected by the alloy type of the file used to determine WL.

• Proceedings of the KACD Conference
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• 2003.11a
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• pp.599-599
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• 2003

Endodontic rotary NiTi(Nickel-Titanium) files have several advantages, but they also have some problems. Fracture of instrument is the one of the problems. Cyclic fatigue fracture may not give a previous sign(ex, bending or distortion of the files) before it happen. It is affected by various factors. This study investigated time which takes for cyclic fatigue fracture to happen and fracture patterns with regard to different NiTi files and pecking motion.(omitted)

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.1-11
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• 2011

Introduction: The aim of this paper is to discuss the mechanical and geometric features of Nickel-titanium (NiTi) rotary files and its clinical effects. NiTi rotary files have been introduced to the markets with their own geometries and claims that they have better ability for the root canal shaping than their competitors. The contents of this paper include the (possible) interrelationship between the geometries of NiTi file (eg. tip, taper, helical angle, etc) and clinical performance of the files as follows; - Fracture modes of NiTi rotary files - Non-cutting guiding tip and glide path - Taper and clinical effects - Cross-sectional area and clinical effects - Heat treatments and surface characteristics - Screw-in effect and preservation of root dentin integrity - Designs for reducing screw-in effect Conclusions: Based on the reviewed contents, clinicians may have an advice to use various brands of NiTi rotary instruments regarding their advantages which would fit for clinical situation.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.267-272
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• 2004

The purpose of this in vitro study was to evaluate the effect of surface defects and cross-sectional configuration of NiTi rotary files on the fatigue life under cyclic loading. Three NiTi rotary files ($K3^{TM},{\;}ProFile^{\circledR},{\;}and{\;}HERO{\;}642^{\circledR}$) with ＃30/.04 taper were evaluated. Each rotary file was divided into 2 subgroups : control (no surface defects) and experimental group (artificial surface defects), A total of six groups of each 10 were tested. The NiTi rotary files were rotated at 300rpm using the apparatus which simulated curved canal (40 degree of curvature) until they fracture. The number of cycles to fracture was calculated and the fractured surfaces were observed with a scanning electron microscope. The data were analyzed statistically. The results showed that experimental groups with surface defects had lower number of cycles to fracture than control group but there was only a statistical significance between control and experimental group in the $K3^{TM}$ (p<0.05), There was no strong correlation between the cross-sectional configuration area and fracture resistance under experimental conditions. Several of fractured files demonstrated characteristic patterns of brittle fracture consistent with the propagation of pre-existing cracks. This data indicate that surface defects of NiTi rotary files may significantly decrease fatigue life and it may be one possible factor for early fracture of NiTi rotary files in clinical practice.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.220-227
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• 1997

The purpose of our study is to evaluate the ability of nickel-titanium(NiTi) files in maintaining the original curvature of a curved root canal during canal preparation. Curved canals on translucent resin blocks were prepared with NiTi and stainless steel files, and they were placed at the platform which can reproduce the same position. The unprepared and prepared canal forms were accurately compared by double exposure technique of photography. By finite element methods we also analyzed stress distributions of NiTi and stainless steel files in a curved canal. The results were as follows : 1. NiTi files were excellent in maintaining the original curvature of a curved canal than stainless steel files after canal preparation. 2. The results of canal preparation with these files were well verified by the analysis of stress distributions using finite element methods.

• Journal of Korean Dental Science
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.112-120
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• 2022

In this article, the contemporary root canal treatment procedure using nickel-titanium (NiTi) instruments was reviewed to understand the correlations between the properties of files and safety of the clinical usage. Literatures were reviewed according to the process of clinical procedure of the root canal preparation, mainly for shaping during orifice flaring, glide-path preparation, and main canal instrumentation. Considering the reasons for NiTi file fracture, clinically implacable issues and ideas were discussed to reduce the fracture risk and increase clinical efficiency of the NiTi file systems. Various kinds of NiTi file systems have their own characteristics and properties given from their geometries and heat treatments and so on. Proper selection and careful usage of the NiTi file systems may reduce the risk of file fracture and increase the efficiency of NiTi file systems. Understanding of the clinical implications from the mechanical properties and characteristics of the engine driven NiTi instruments may decrease the risk of NiTi file fractures and increase the success rate in root canal treatment.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.96-102
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• 2006

There are various factors affecting the fracture of NiTi rotary files. This study was performed to evaluate the effect of cross sectional area, pecking motion and pecking distance on the cyclic fatigue fracture of different NiTi files. Five different NiTi $files-Profile^{(R)}$ (Maillefer, Ballaigue, Switzerland), $ProTaper^{TM}$(Maillefer, Ballaigue, Switzerland), $K3^{(R)}$ (SybronEndo. Orange, CA) , Hero $642^{(R)}$ (Micro-mega, Besancon, France), Hero $Shaper^{(R)}$ (Micro-mega, Besancon, France)-were used. Each file was embedded in temporary resin, sectioned horizontally and observed with scanning electron microscope. The ratio of cross-sectional area to the circumscribed circle was calculated. Special device was fabricated to simulate the cyclic fatigue fracture of NiTi file in the curved canal,. On this device, NiTi files were rotated (300rpm) with different pecking distances (3 mm or 6 mm) and with different motions (static motion or dynamic pecking motion) . Time until fracture occurs was measured. The results demonstrated that cross-sectional area didn't have any effect on the time of file fracture. Among the files, $Profile^{(R)}$ took the longest time to be fractured. Between the pecking motions, dynamic motion took the longer time to be fractured than static motion. There was no significant difference between the pecking distances with dynamic motion, however with static motion, the longer time was taken at 3mm distance. In this study, we could suggest that dynamic pecking motion would lengthen the time for NiTi file to be fractured from cyclic fatigue.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.184-192
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• 2005

Intracanal separation of the rotary files is a serious concern in modern endodontic practice. The objective of this study was to compare the life span and fracture patterns of three NiTi rotary files in molar teeth Mesiobuccal roots of upper molar (n = 150) and mesial roots of lower molar (n = 150) were divided into three groups and each group was prepared with Profile, ProTaper, and K3 respectively. Every file was used until separation and/or deterioration of the cutting blade was happened, and then the number of canals to separation and/or unwinding were recorded. Radiographs and Scanning electon microscope (SEM) photographs were taken to evaluate the patterns of separation. The results were as follows: 1. There were no significant differences in numbers of canals to separation and/or unwinding among the groups. 2. Comparing between flaring files, K3 showed significant lower numbers of canals to separation and/or unwinding (p < 0.05), and there was no significant difference between shaping files 3. Separations of instruments were occurred at the midpoint of curvatures within the canals 4. In SEM observations, ductile fractures were seen in most of cases, characterized by shallow dimples. Additional researches is needed to provide a new guideline that informs the appropriate number of times to use NiTi files.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.94-109
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• 1998

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of materials and sizes of files on canal transportation in a curved canal. The stress and the strain energy of files of two kinds of materials (stainless steel and NiTi) and five sizes (No. 20, 25, 30, 35 and 40) in a curved canal were analyzed by a finite element program, NASTRAN. Curved canals in transparent resin blocks were instrumented with the 10 kinds of files, and the degree of canal transportation obtained by double exposure technique of photography was compared with the analysis by the finite element method. The results were as follows : 1. The stress of a file in a curved canal increased from the file body to the file tip. 2. The stress of a stainless steel file was about 2.5 times greater than that of a same-sized NiTi file. 3. The stress distributions of files of an identical material were the same, and the strain energies of files of an identical material increased as the size of files increased. 4. The strain energy of a No. 35 NiTi file was about the same as that of a No. 20 stainless steel file. 5. The degree of canal transportation by a stainless steel file was greater than that by a same-sized NiTi file. The degree of canal transportation generally increased as the size of a file increased. 6. The degree of canal transportation of a No. 35 NiTi file was about the same as that of a No. 20 stainless steel file.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.121-127
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• 2005

A variety files made of stainless steel (S-S) or nickel-titanium (Ni-Ti) are used during endodontic treatment. The purpose of tt)is study was to evaluate the corrosion susceptibility of S-S and Ni-Ti endodontic files. Three brands of files were used for this study: $K-flex^{(R)}$ S-S files (Maillefer, USA), $Profile^{(R)}$ Ni-Ti files (Maillefer, USA), $K-3^{(R)}$ Ni-Ti files (SybronEndo. USA). 120 files of each brands (21mm, ISO size $\#20$) were divided into 12 groups according to 1) sterilization methods using Autoclave or Ethylene Oxide (E-O) gas, 2) Irrigation solutions using $5.25\%$ NaOCl or Saline, 3) the number of sterilization (1, 5, 10 times), After above procedures, each of the files was inspected by three examiners with a light microscope and camera at X25. Each file was judged and ranked according to the following criteria: 0;, no corrosion, 1; mild corrosion, 2; moderate corrosion, and 3; severe corrosion. The files of high score were examined under the Scanning Electron Microscope. Data were statistically analyzed with the Kruskal-Wallis test (p < 0.05). Most of the ten time-autoclaved files had showed mild to moderate corrosion. But, one or five time-autoclaved files did not show corrosive surface. NaOCl treatment and E-O gas sterilization did not influence on corrosion. There was a significant difference in corrosion susceptibility between sterilization methods and the number of autoclaving. However, there was no significant difference between brands and file materials.