• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.301-308
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• 2017

Objectives: It was aimed to compare the cyclic fatigue resistances of ProTaper Universal (PTU), ProTaper Next (PTN), and ProTaper Gold (PTG) and the effects of sterilization by autoclave on the cyclic fatigue life of nickel-titanium (NiTi) instruments. Materials and Methods: Eighty PTU, 80 PTN, and 80 PTG were included to the present study. Files were tested in a simulated canal. Each brand of the NiTi files were divided into 4 subgroups: group 1, as received condition; group 2, pre-sterilized instruments exposed to 10 times sterilization by autoclave; group 3, instruments tested were sterilized after being exposed to 25%, 50%, and 75% of the mean cycles to failure, then cycled fatigue test was performed; group 4, instruments exposed to the same experiment with group 3 without sterilization. The number of cycles to failure (NCF) was calculated. The data was statistically analyzed by using one-way analysis of variance and post hoc Tukey tests. Results: PTG showed significantly higher NCF than PTU and PTN in group 1 (p < 0.05). Sterilization significantly increased the NCF of PTN and PTG (p < 0.05) in group 2. PTN in group 3 had significantly higher cyclic fatigue resistance than PTN group 4 (p < 0.05). Also, significantly higher NCF was observed for PTG in group 2 than in groups 3 and 4 (p < 0.05). Conclusions: PTG instrument made of new gold alloy was more resistant to fatigue failure than PTN and PTU. Autoclaving increased the cyclic fatigue resistances of PTN and PTG.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.1-5
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• 2016

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to assess the ability of ProTaper Gold (PTG, Dentsply Maillefer) in maintaining the original profile of root canal anatomy. For that, ProTaper Universal (PTU, Dentsply Maillefer) was used as reference techniques for comparison. Materials and Methods: Twenty simulated curved canals manufactured in clear resin blocks were randomly assigned to 2 groups (n = 10) according to the system used for canal instrumentation: PTU and PTG groups, upto F2 files (25/0.08). Color stereomicroscopic images from each block were taken exactly at the same position before and after instrumentation. All image processing and data analysis were performed with an open source program (FIJI). Evaluation of canal transportation was obtained for two independent canal regions: straight and curved levels. Student's t test was used with a cut-off for significance set at ${\alpha}=5%$. Results: Instrumentation systems significantly influenced canal transportation (p < 0.0001). A significant interaction between instrumentation system and root canal level (p < 0.0001) was found. PTU and PTG systems produced similar canal transportation at the straight part, while PTG system resulted in lower canal transportation than PTU system at the curved part. Canal transportation was higher at the curved canal portion (p < 0.0001). Conclusions: PTG system produced overall less canal transportation in the curved portion when compared to PTU system.

• Journal of Dental Rehabilitation and Applied Science
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.213-221
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• 2022

Purpose: The efficacy of the amount of sealer in the root canal and two retreatment NiTi file systems in removing filling materials. Materials and Methods: Extracted premolars with a single root canal were selected for this study. After access opening and root canal preparation up to size #40/.06, the specimens were randomly divided into four groups. Gutta percha (GP) tapers of .06 or .04 were used for each group and filled using a single-cone filling technique with CeraSeal, a calcium silicate-based sealer. Each group was retreated either using the ProTaper Universal Retreatment System (PTUR) or the Hyflex Remover (HR). The time taken to remove the filling material, the amounts of apically extruded debris, and canal cleanliness were measured and compared. Results: The amount of sealer did not affect the efficiency when removing the filling materials. However, the filling material was removed faster in the HR group than in the PTUR group. Two types of NiTi files showed similar retreatment effects in the amounts of apically extruded debris and in the degree of canal cleanliness. Conclusion: The amount of sealer in canal filling had no significant effect on retreatability. Retreatment with HR removed filling materials is faster than PTUR. There was no difference in other removal efficiencies according to the type of retreatment NiTi file.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.332-341
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• 2017

Objectives: To determine the incidence of crack formation and propagation in apical root dentin after retreatment procedures performed using ProTaper Universal Retreatment (PTR), Mtwo-R, ProTaper Next (PTN), and Twisted File Adaptive (TFA) systems. Materials and Methods: The study consisted of 120 extracted mandibular premolars. One millimeter from the apex of each tooth was ground perpendicular to the long axis of the tooth, and the apical surface was polished. Twenty teeth served as the negative control group. One hundred teeth were prepared, obturated, and then divided into 5 retreatment groups. The retreatment procedures were performed using the following files: PTR, Mtwo-R, PTN, TFA, and hand files. After filling material removal, apical enlargement was done using apical size 0.50 mm ProTaper Universal (PTU), Mtwo, PTN, TFA, and hand files. Digital images of the apical root surfaces were recorded before preparation, after preparation, after obturation, after filling removal, and after apical enlargement using a stereomicroscope. The images were then inspected for the presence of new apical cracks and crack propagation. Data were analyzed with ${\chi}^2$ tests using SPSS 21.0 software. Results: New cracks and crack propagation occurred in all the experimental groups during the retreatment process. Nickel-titanium rotary file systems caused significantly more apical crack formation and propagation than the hand files. The PTU system caused significantly more apical cracks than the other groups after the apical enlargement stage. Conclusions: This study showed that retreatment procedures and apical enlargement after the use of retreatment files can cause crack formation and propagation in apical dentin.

• The Journal of the Korean dental association
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• v.47 no.7
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• pp.435-443
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• 2009

The purpose of this study was to compare the centering ratio and reduction of canal curvature according to the preparation sizes of #30, #40 and #50 using three rotary NiTi instruments which have different shaft tapers. Seventy-two simulated root canals in clear resin blocks (Endo Training Bloc; Dentsply Maillefer, Ballaigues, Switzerland) were divided as following 3 groups according to the file system; the 24 canal blocks prepared with each of ProTaper Universal system (Group P), LightSpeed eXtra system (Group L), and K3 (Group K). The pre- and post-instrumented root canals were scanned and superimposed to evaluate and calculate the centering ratio and reduction of canal curvature. Mean scores of each group were statistically analyzed using one-way ANOV A and Duncan's multiple range test for post-hoc comparison. The results were as followings: 1. Group L showed better centering ratio, followed by K and P. And all experimental groups generally showed increasing tendency of centering ratio as the apical size was increasing from #30 to #50, except at 1 mm level of group P where showed reducing tendency of centering ratio. The smaller the ratio, the better the instrument remained centered in the canal. 2. Group P showed more decrease of canal curvature at all apical shaping size (p < 0.05). Under the conditions of this study, the shaft design could affect the quality of canal shaping and the smooth taperless flexible (LightSpeed) shaft design was capable of preparing canals with good morphological characteristics in curved canals.

• Journal of Dental Rehabilitation and Applied Science
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.99-107
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• 2011

The main objective of nonsurgical retreatment is to disinfect the root canal space for periradicular healing. Thus, efficient removal of the filling material from the root canal system is essential to ensure a favorable outcome. Traditionally, the removal of root canal filling material was performed by stainless steel hand instrument and this procedure is time and effort-consuming. Recently, rotary NiTi retreatment instruments are developed to effective removal of root canal filling material. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of stainless-steel hand instrument and rotary NiTi retreatment instrument when removing gutta-percha in curved root canals. For the remaining materials, there were no significant differences between groups. But the rotary NiTi system proved to be faster than hand instruments in removing root filling materials.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.377-388
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• 2008

The aim of the present study is to compare the corrosion tendency using two kinds of NiTi files in the various environmental conditions through the visual examination and electrochemical analysis. ProTaper Universal S2, 21 mm (Dentsply Maillefer, Ballaigues, Switzerland) and Hero 642, 0.06 tapers, size 25, 21 mm (Micromega, Besancon, France) rotary instruments were tested. The instruments were randomly divided into eighteen groups (n = 5) by the immersion temperature, the type of solution, the brand of NiTi rotary instrument and the presence of mechanical loading. Each file was examined at various magnifications using Scanning Electron Microscope (JEOL, Akishima, Tokyo, Japan) equipped with energy dispersive X-ray microanalysis (EDX). EDX was used to determine the components of the endodontic file alloy in corroded and noncorroded areas. The corrosion resistance of unused and used NiTi files after repeated uses in the human teeth was evaluated electrochemically by potentiodynamic polarization test using a potentiostat (Applied Corrosion Monitoring, Cark-in-Cartmel, UK). Solution temperature and chloride ion concentration may affect on passivity of NiTi files. Under the conditions of this in vitro study, the corrosion resistance is slightly increased after clinical use.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.176-181
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• 2016

Objectives: This study aimed to compare two nickel-titanium systems (rotary vs. reciprocating) for their acceptance by undergraduate students who experienced nickel-titanium (NiTi) instruments for the first time. Materials and Methods: Eighty-one sophomore dental students were first taught on manual root canal preparation with stainless-steel files. After that, they were instructed on the use of ProTaper Universal system (PTU, Dentsply Maillefer), then the WaveOne (WO, Dentsply Maillefer). They practiced with each system on 2 extracted molars, before using those files to shape the buccal or mesial canals of additional first molars. A questionnaire was completed after using each file system, seeking students' perception about 'Ease of use', 'Flexibility', 'Cutting-efficiency', 'Screwing-effect', 'Feeling-safety', and 'Instrumentation-time' of the NiTi files, relative to stainless-steel instrumentation, on a 5-point Likert-type scale. They were also requested to indicate their preference between the two systems. Data was compared between groups using t-test, and with Chi-square test for correlation of each perception value with the preferred choice (p = 0.05). Results: Among the 81 students, 55 indicated their preferred file system as WO and 22 as PTU. All scores were greater than 4 (better) for both systems, compared with stainless-steel files, except for 'Screwing-effect' for PTU. The scores for WO in the categories of 'Flexibility', 'Screwing-effect', and 'Feeling-safety' were significantly higher scores than those of PTU. A significant association between the 'Screwing-effect' and students' preference for WO was observed. Conclusions: Novice operators preferred nickel-titanium instruments to stainless-steel, and majority of them opted for reciprocating file instead of continuous rotating system.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.216-223
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• 2017

Objectives: The aim of this study was to compare the mechanical properties of various nickel-titanium (NiTi) files with similar tapers and cross-sectional areas depending on whether they were surface-treated. Materials and Methods: Three NiTi file systems with a similar convex triangular cross-section and the same ISO #25 tip size were selected for this study: G6 (G6), ProTaper Universal (PTU), and Dia-PT (DPT). To test torsional resistance, 5 mm of the straightened file's tip was fixed between polycarbonate blocks (n = 15/group) and continuous clockwise rotation until fracture was conducted using a customized device. To evaluate cyclic fatigue resistance, files were rotated in an artificial curved canal until fracture in a dynamic mode (n = 15/group). The torsional data were analyzed using 1-way analysis of variance and the Tukey post-hoc comparison test, while the cyclic fatigue data were analyzed using the Mann-Whitney U test at a significance level of 95%. Results: PTU showed significantly greater toughness, followed by DPT and G6 (p < 0.05). G6 showed the lowest resistance in ultimate torsional strength, while it showed a higher fracture angle than the other files (p < 0.05). In the cyclic fatigue test, DPT showed a significantly higher number of cycles to failure than PTU or G6 (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Within the limitations of this study, it can be concluded that the torsional resistance of NiTi files was affected by the cross-sectional area, while the cyclic fatigue resistance of NiTi files was influenced by the surface treatment.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.5.1-5.13
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• 2021

Objectives: The aim of the current study was to assess whether the amount of extruded debris differs for straight and severely curved root canals during retreatment using H-files, R-Endo, Reciproc and ProTaper Universal Retreatment (PTU-R) files. Additionally, the area of residual filling material was evaluated. Materials and Methods: Severely curved (n = 104) and straight (n = 104) root canals of maxillary molar teeth were prepared with WaveOne Primary file and obturated with gutta-percha and AH Plus sealer. Root canal filling materials were removed with one of the preparation techniques: group 1: H-file; group 2: R-Endo; group 3: Reciproc; group 4: PTU-R (n = 26). The amount of extruded material and the area of the residual filling material was measured. The data were analyzed with 2-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and 1-way ANOVA at the 0.05 significance level. Results: Except for Reciproc group (p > 0.05), PTU-R, R-Endo, and H-file systems extruded significantly more debris in severely curved canals (p < 0.05). Each file system caused more residual filling material in severely curved canals than in straight ones (p < 0.05). Conclusions: All instruments used in this study caused apical debris extrusion. Root canal curvature had an effect on extruded debris, except for Reciproc system. Clinicians should be aware that the difficult morphology of the severely curved root canals is a factor increasing the amount of extruded debris during the retreatment procedure.