Analysis of Multiple Usages of Protaper Rotary Instruments before Initial Signs of Failure: An In-vitro Study

Aim: The study aimed to evaluate the number of canals safely enlarged with Protaper instruments before the instrument showed initial signs of failure.

Materials and Methods: Freshly extracted 100 human molar teeth with canal curvature < 200 were included in the study. Group 1(PTU SX files) (n=50): Instrumentation was done with Pro taper Universal files, Group 2 (PTG SX files) (n=50): Instrumentation was done with Pro taper gold rotary files. The total number of root canals considered for instrumentation in each group was 150. After the access opening of all teeth, canal patency was checked and the SX files of PTU were instrumented in 50 teeth, and the SX files of PTG were instrumented in another 50 teeth. The SX files were checked for any signs of failure after each use under the Dental operating microscope. The number of canals enlarged before showing the signs of failure was noted.

Statistical Analysis: The data were analyzed with the independent t-test.

Results: The difference was statistically significant with a p value of 0.006 in the number of canals enlarged by PTU SX files and PTG SX files without showing any signs of failure. The mean number of canals enlarged using PTG SX files was 10 ± 1.054 compared to PTU SX files (8.6 ± 0.966).

Conclusions: PTG SX files were used in more canals than PTU SX files, before showing initial signs of failure thereby showing the more efficiency of gold files.