• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.399-407
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• 1999

Apical extrusion of canal debris is occurred inadvertently during root canal preparation and this could produce interappointment discomfort or postinstrumentation pain. The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of canal preparation methods on the apical extrusion of canal debris by means of comparing the amounts of apically extruded debris with several kinds of instrumentation methods. In the first experiment, 40 incisors were divided into four groups of 10 each. They were instrumented using one of the four techniques: Step-back, crown-down pressureless technique with stainless steel K-files, engine-driven instrumentation with Quantec series 2000, and Profile .04 taper series 29. Root canal irrigation was done with 2.52% sodium hypochlorite solution. In the second experiment, 80 incisors were divided into five groups of 16 each and instrumented using step-back, crown-down pressureless technique with stainless steel K-files, engine-driven instrumentation such as Quantec SC, Quantec LX, and Profile .04 taper series 29 No irrigation procedure was performed in this second experiment. Extruded debris from each tooth was collected in a container and weighed by the use of an electronic balance after desiccation. With or without canal irrigation, step-back technique produced significantly more amount of apical debris than the other groups (p<0.05). However, there was no significant difference among crown-down pressureless technique, engine-driven instrumentation with Quantec LX, Quantec SC, or Profile. Therefore, either by hand or engine-driven instrumentation, it is concluded that to minimize apical debris, techniques using reaming motion of files should be applied rather than filing motion.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.37-46
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• 2007

The C-shaped canal system is an anatomical variation mostly seen in mandibular second molars, although it can also occur in maxillary and other mandibular molars. The main anatomical feature of C-shaped canals is the presence of fins or web connecting the individual root canals. The complexity of C-shaped canals prevents these canals from being cleaned, shaped, and obturated effectively during root canal therapy, and sometimes it leads to an iatrogenic perforation from the extravagant preparation. The purpose of this study was to provide further knowledge of the anatomical configuration and the minimal thickness of dentinal wall according to the level of the root. Thirty extracted mandibular second molars with fused roots and longitudinal grooves on lingual or buccal surface of the root were collected from a native Korean population. The photo images and radiographs from buccal, lingual, apical direction were taken. After access cavity was prepared, teeth were placed in 5.25% sodium hypochlorite solution for 2 hours to dissolve the organic tissue of the root surface and from the root canal system. After bench dried and all the teeth were embedded in a self-curing resin. Each block was sectioned using a microtome (Accutom-50, Struers, Denmark) at interval of 1 mm. The sectioned surface photograph was taken using a digital camera (Coolpix 995, Nikon, Japan) connected to the microscope. 197 images were evaluated for canal configurations and the minimal thickness of dentinal wall between canal and external wall using 'Root Thickness Gauge Program' designed with Visual Basic. The results were as follows : 1. At the orifice level of all teeth, the most frequent observed configuration was Melton's Type C I (73%), however the patterns were changed to type C II and C III when the sections were observed at the apical third. On the other hand, the type C III was observed at the orifice level of only 2 teeth but this type could be seen at apical region of the rest of the teeth. 2. The C-shaped canal showed continuous and semi-colon shape at the orifice level, but at the apical portion of the canal there was high possibility of having 2 or 3 canals 3. Lingual wall was thinner than buccal wall at coronal, middle, apical thirds of root but there was no statistical differences.