OBJECTIVES: The purpose of the present study was to compare the mean preparation times and frequency with which Reciproc and Reciproc Blue instruments reached the full working length in mandibular molars, with or without glide path preparation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Previously untreated mesiobuccal and mesiolingual canals with completely formed apices were randomly divided into 6 groups (n = 50) depending on the usage of Reciproc (RC; VDW), Reciproc Blue (RC Blue; VDW), C-Pilot (CP; VDW), and R-Pilot (RP; VDW) files: RC, RC Blue, RC + C-Pilot (RC-CP), RC-Blue + C-Pilot (RC Blue-CP), RC+R-Pilot (RC-RP), and RC Blue + R-Pilot (RC Blue-RP). A glide path was prepared using the hand-operated C-Pilot or the machine-operated R-Pilot instruments, respectively. The χ2 test, analysis of variance, and the Tukey post hoc test were used for statistical comparisons. RESULTS: No statistically significant differences were observed in the distribution of the frequency of reaching the full working length in the RC (94%), RC Blue (88%), RC-CP (94%), RC Blue-CP (90%), RC-RP (96%), and RC Blue-RP (92%) groups (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Preparation of a glide path did not have a significant effect on reaching the full working length using these systems.
Molar

Objectives: This micro-computed tomographic (CT) study aimed to compare the shaping abilities of ProTaper Next (PTN), One Shape (OS), and One Curve (OC) files in 3-dimensionally (3D)-printed mandibular molars. Materials and Methods: In order to ensure standardization, 3D-printed mandibular molars with a consistent mesiobuccal canal curvature (45°) were used in the present study (n = 18).Specimens were instrumented with the OC, OS, or PTN files. The teeth were scanned preand post-instrumentation using micro-CT to detect changes of the canal volume and surface area, as well as to quantify transportation of the canals after instrumentation. Two-way analysis of variance was used for statistical comparisons. Results: No statistically significant differences were found between the OC and OS groups in the changes of the canal volume and surface area before and after instrumentation (p > 0.05). The OC files showed significantly less transportation than the OS or PTN systems for the apical section (p < 0.05). In a comparison of the systems, similar values were found at the coronal and middle levels, without any significant differences (p > 0.05). Conclusions These 3 instrumentation systems showed similar shaping abilities, although the OC file achieved a lesser extent of transportation in the apical zone than the OS and PTN files. All 3 file systems were confirmed to be safe for use in mandibular mesial canals.

Objectives: This micro-computed tomographic (CT) study aimed to compare the shaping abilities of ProTaper Next (PTN), One Shape (OS), and One Curve (OC) files in 3-dimensionally (3D)-printed mandibular molars. Materials and Methods: In order to ensure standardization, 3D-printed mandibular molars with a consistent mesiobuccal canal curvature (45°) were used in the present study (n = 18).Specimens were instrumented with the OC, OS, or PTN files. The teeth were scanned preand post-instrumentation using micro-CT to detect changes of the canal volume and surface area, as well as to quantify transportation of the canals after instrumentation. Two-way analysis of variance was used for statistical comparisons. Results: No statistically significant differences were found between the OC and OS groups in the changes of the canal volume and surface area before and after instrumentation (p > 0.05). The OC files showed significantly less transportation than the OS or PTN systems for the apical section (p < 0.05). In a comparison of the systems, similar values were found at the coronal and middle levels, without any significant differences (p > 0.05). Conclusions These 3 instrumentation systems showed similar shaping abilities, although the OC file achieved a lesser extent of transportation in the apical zone than the OS and PTN files. All 3 file systems were confirmed to be safe for use in mandibular mesial canals.