COMPARATIVE EVALUATION OF DENTINAL CRACK FORMATION DURING ROOT CANAL PREPARATION USING PROTAPER GOLD, HYFLEX EDM FILES

Abstract

Aim: To evaluate and compare in vitro the dentinal crack formation after instrumentation of root canals with Protaper Gold, Hyflex EDM instruments.

Materials and methods: Fourty five single rooted teeth were used for this study. Fifteen teeth were unprepared as the negative control group, and the remaining 30 teeth were assigned to two root canal shaping groups. The root canal shaping procedure was performed to the full working length with: Protaper Gold (Group 1), Hyflex EDM (Group 2). All the specimens were sectioned perpendicular to the long axis at 3, 6, and 9 mm and were observed under a digital stereomicroscope at X25 magnification. The absence/presence of cracks was recorded, and the data were analysed with a chi-square test. The significance level was set at 5%.

Result: Protaper Gold was having more number of cracks than Hyflex EDM. Between groups, Protaper Gold and Hyflex EDM group showed statistically significant difference (P<0.05).

Conclusion: Hyflex EDM tend to produce less number of cracks as compared to Protaper Gold.

Key words: Dentinal crack, Hyflex EDM, Protaper gold, Root canal preparation, Tooth fracture