The effect of a manual instrumentation technique on five types of premolar root canal geometry assessed by microcomputed tomography and three-dimensional reconstruction

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Together with diagnosis and treatment planning, a good knowledge of the root canal system and its frequent variations is a necessity for successful root canal therapy. The selection of instrumentation techniques for variants in internal anatomy of teeth has significant effects on the shaping ability and cleaning effectiveness. The aim of this study was to reveal the differences made by including variations in the internal anatomy of premolars into the study protocol for investigation of a single instrumentation technique (hand ProTaper instruments) assessed by microcomputed tomography and three-dimensional reconstruction.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Five single-root premolars, whose root canal systems were classified into one of five types, were scanned with micro-CT before and after preparation with a hand ProTaper instrument. Instrumentation characteristics were measured quantitatively in 3-D using a customized application framework based on MeVisLab. Numeric values were obtained for canal surface area, volume, volume changes, percentage of untouched surface, dentin wall thickness, and the thickness of dentin removed. Preparation errors were also evaluated using a color-coded reconstruction.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Canal volumes and surface areas were increased after instrumentation. Prepared canals of all five types were straightened, with transportation toward the inner aspects of S-shaped or multiple curves. However, a ledge was formed at the apical third curve of the type II canal system and a wide range in the percentage of unchanged canal surfaces (27.4-83.0%) was recorded. The dentin walls were more than 0.3 mm thick except in a 1 mm zone from the apical surface and the hazardous area of the type II canal system after preparation with an F3 instrument.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The 3-D color-coded images showed different morphological changes in the five types of root canal systems shaped with the same hand instrumentation technique. Premolars are among the most complex teeth for root canal treatment and instrumentation techniques for the root canal systems of premolars should be selected individually depending on the 3-D canal configuration of each tooth. Further study is needed to demonstrate the differences made by including variations in the internal anatomy of teeth into the study protocol of clinical RCT for identifying the best preparation technique.</p

Assessment of canal walls after biomechanical preparation of root canals instrumented with protaper universalTM rotary system

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to examine the instrumented walls of root canals prepared with the ProTaper UniversalTM rotary system. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Twenty mesiobuccal canals of human first mandibular molars were divided into 2 groups of 10 specimens each and embedded in a muffle system. The root canals were transversely sectioned 3 mm short of the apex before preparation and remounted in their molds. All root canals were prepared with ProTaper UniversalTM rotary system or with NitiflexTM files. The pre and postoperative images of the apical thirds viewed with a stereoscopic magnifier (X45) were captured digitally for further analysis. Data were analyzed statistically by Fisher's exact test and Chi-square test at 5% significance level. RESULTS: The differences observed between the instrumented and the noninstrumented walls were not statistically significant (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The NitiflexTM files and the ProTaper UniversalTM rotary system failed to instrument all the root canal walls

Three-dimensional analysis of the physiological foramen geometry of maxillary and mandibular molars by means of micro-CT

The aim of this study was to investigate the physiological foramen diameter, shape and distance between physiological and anatomical apex of maxillary and mandibular first and second molars. Accurate knowledge of the physiological foramina morphology; thus, inherent mechanical shaping technical hindrances, is decisive when taking the corresponding root canal final preparation decision. The morphological dimensions of a total of 1727 physiological foramina were investigated by means of micro-computed tomography. Mean narrow and wide (to a high number, oval) diameters of the physiological foramen were 0.24, 0.22 and 0.33 mm and 0.33, 0.31 and 0.42 mm in mesiobuccal (MB), distobuccal (DB) and palatal (P) roots in maxillary first molars; 0.24, 0.22 and 0.33 mm and 0.41, 0.33 and 0.44 in MB, DB, and P roots in maxillary second molars. Mandibular first molars showed mean narrow and wide diameters of 0.24 and 0.30 mm and of 0.39 and 0.46 mm in mesial (M) and distal (D) roots; second mandibular molars showed 0.25 and 0.31 mm and 0.47 mm in M and D roots. The mean distance between the physiological foramina and anatomical apex was 0.82, 0.81 and 1.02 mm and 0.54, 0.43 and 0.63 mm in MB, DB and P roots of the maxillary first and second molars, respectively. A mean distance of 0.95 mm (M) and 1.05 mm (D) in the first and 0.78 mm (M) and 0.81 mm (D) in the second mandibular molars was observed. Based on the results obtained, assumable recommendations for final preparation size of the physiological foramen were calculated. However, when taking into consideration, the resulting standard deviations of marginal errors must be cautiously considered when taking a final decision in clinical endodontic treatment

Root canal morphology and configuration of 123 maxillary second molars by means of micro-CT

The aim of this study was to investigate the root canal configuration, accessory canals and number of main foramina of 123 maxillary second molars by means of micro-computed tomography. The teeth were scanned and reproduced with 3D software imaging. The root canal configuration and number of main foramina were evaluated by means of a four-digit system. The morphological complexity of human maxillary second molars is depicted by the number of accessory and connecting canals. The most frequently observed root canal configurations in the mesiobuccal root were 2-2-2/2 (19.5%), 2-2-1/1 (14.6%) and 2-1-1/1 (13.0%). A 1-1-1/1 configuration was observed in 93.5% and in 96.7% in the distobuccal and palatal roots, respectively. The MB1 root canal had one accessory canal (18.7%), and 8.9% of the MB2 root canal had one or two accessory canals. The distobuccal (11.3%) and palatal (14.6%) root canals had at least one accessory canal, and connecting canals were observed in 16.3% of mesiobuccal roots. The MB1, MB2, distobuccal and palatal root canals had one main foramen in 99.2%, 43.1%, 98.4% and 99.2% of samples, respectively. In the mesiobuccal root, one accessory foramen was detected in 14.6%, two were detected in 7.3%, and three were detected in 5.7%. The distobuccal root showed one or two accessory foramina in 9.1% of samples. The root canal configuration of maxillary second molars is quite heterogeneous; the mesiobuccal root has predominantly two root canal entrances (58.4%, 1 in 41.1%) with one main foramen (54.4%). Two main foramina were observed in 43.0%. Morphological variations, connecting and accessory canals were observed in all apical thirds

CT evaluation of apical canal transportation associated with stainless steel hand files, oscillatory technique and ProTaper rotary system

This study used computed tomography (CT) to compare apical canal transportation in mesiobuccal canals of maxillary molars prepared with different techniques. Sixty teeth were assigned to 3 groups (n=20), according to the technique used for root canal instrumentation: hand instrumentation with K-Flexofiles, K-Flexofiles activated by an oscillatory system and ProTaper NiTi rotary system. Pre and postinstrumentation CT images were obtained 3 mm short of the apical foramen and were superimposed to compare canal transportation. Data were analyzed statistically by ANOVA and Tukey’s test using the SPSS software (α=0.05). In the buccal direction, the manual technique produced significantly less canal transportation than the oscillatory technique (p<0.05) and both were similar to the rotary technique (p>0.05). In the distal and distopalatal directions, the oscillatory technique produced more canal transportation (p<0.05). In the mesiopalatal direction, the oscillatory technique produced more canal transportation than the manual technique (p<0.05), and both were similar to the rotary technique (p>0.05). In conclusion, all techniques produced canal transportation, and the oscillatory technique produced the greatest removal of root dentin toward the innerside of the root curvature.Este estudo utilizou a tomografia computadorizada (TC) para comparar o transporte do canal radicular nos canais mésiovestibulares de molares superiores preparados por diferentes técnicas. Sessenta molares superiores foram divididos em 3 grupos (n=20) de acordo com a técnica utilizada para o preparo do canal radicular: instrumentação manual com limas K-Flexofile, limas K-Flexofile acopladas a um sistema oscilatório e sistema rotatório ProTaper. Imagens de TC pré e pós-instrumentação foram obtidas 3 mm aquém do forame apical e superpostas para comparar o transporte do canal. Os dados foram analisados estatisticamente pela Análise de Variância (ANOVA) e Teste de Tukey utilizando o software SPSS (α=0,05). Na direção vestibular, a técnica manual produziu significantemente menos transporte do canal radicular do que a técnica oscilatória (p<0,05) e ambas foram similares a técnica rotatória (p>0,05). Nas direções distal e disto-palatina, a técnica oscilatória produziu mais transporte do canal radicular (p<0,05). Na direção mésio-palatina, a técnica oscilatória produziu mais transporte do canal radicular do que a técnica manual (p<0,05), sendo que ambas foram similares à técnica rotatória (p>0,05). Em conclusão, todas as técnicas produziram transporte do canal radicular e a técnica oscilatória produziu os maiores desgastes de dentina na direção interna da curvatura

Volumetry of human molars with flat panel-based volume CT in vitro

Contains fulltext : 35137.pdf (publisher's version ) (Closed access)The flat panel-based volume computed tomography (fpVCT) is a new CT device applicable for experimental, three-dimensional evaluation of teeth at a resolution of about 150 microm in the high contrast region. The aim of this study was to investigate whether fpVCT was suitable for quantification of the volumes of dental hard tissues and the root canal system to establish a new method for morphological studies. Fifty-two extracted third molars (maxillary: 31, mandibular: 21) were examined with a prototype of an fpVCT using a volumetry algorithm at different levels according to the radiographic density of enamel and dentine. Volumetry of the root canal system was performed after "region growing segmentation": starting from a voxel in the centre of the root canal, this algorithm searches voxels of same density in the surrounding. The volumetry of the root canal system was stopped by the investigator at the apical constriction. Results showed that dentine, enamel and root canal system could be well distinguished in three-dimensional images. Volumetry yielded the following data (cm(3), mean+/-SD): dentine 0.438+/-0.111, enamel 0.227+/-0.051, root canal system 0.052+/-0.017 and total volume 0.753+/-0.159. In conclusion, the fpVCT is appropriate for non-destructive volumetry of large numbers of teeth in experimental laboratory studies