A proposta desse estudo in vitro foi avaliar a influência do pré-alargamento cervical no desgaste apical de canais simulados curvos preparados com instrumentos rotatórios de níquel-titânio. Foram confeccionados 30 blocos de resina com canais simulados de 20 graus de curvatura que foram divididos aleatoriamente em três grupos distintos (n=10) de acordo com o tipo de alargamento cervical realizado: Grupo I - sem alargamento cervical; Grupo II - alargamento cervical realizado com brocas CP Drill®; Grupo III - alargamento cervical realizado com brocas LA Axxess®. Previamente ao alargamento cervical os canais foram preenchidos com tinta nanquim em toda sua extensão e realizaram-se as fotografias iniciais com auxílio de máquina digital posicionada em estativa. Para o preparo apical utilizaram-se instrumentos rotatórios K3® na seqüência de 20.02 até 45.02, sendo que, entre o intervalo do uso de cada instrumento o canal foi preenchido, novamente, com tinta nanquim e realizada a fotografia final para cada instrumento. As fotografias pré e pós-operatórias foram sobrepostas e procedeu-se a mensuração do desgaste linear da parede interna e externa do canal simulado no ápice da curvatura e no ápice do canal proporcionado por cada instrumento, com auxílio do software Image Tool. A diferença entre esses valores, de acordo com cada área do canal avaliada, foi submetida à análise estatística. O teste de Regressão Linear permitiu estabelecer uma correlação entre o calibre do instrumento e o desgaste do canal, que pode ser traduzida em uma equação matemática, indicando que é diretamente proporcional. O teste de Kruskal-Wallis (complementado com pós-teste de Dunn) permitiu a comparação do desgaste entre os diferentes grupos experimentais. Por meio desses testes pode-se observar que grupo onde não foi realizado o pré-alargamento cervical apresentou padrões de desgastes diferentes daqueles onde o preparo foi executado. O grupo sem pré-alargamento provocou o desgaste acentuado do lado externo da curvatura, enquanto os grupos preparados com CP Drill® e LA Axxess® mostraram padrões de desgaste semelhantes, denotando a maior centralização do instrumento no canal em ambas as regiões analisadas (ápice da curva e ápice do canal). Pode-se concluir que o pré-alargamento cervical influenciou de forma positiva no preparo da região apical de canais simulados curvos, proporcionando preparos mais centralizados dessa região. / The purpose of this in vitro study was to evaluate the influence of cervical preflaring on prepared canal shape in simulated curved root canals prepared with nickel-titanium rotary systems. Thirty resin blocks with simulated canals with 20º curvature were fabricated and randomly assigned to three groups (n=10) according to the type of cervical preflaring: Group I - no cervical preflaring; Group II - cervical preflaring with CP Drill® burs; Group III - cervical preflaring with LA Axxess® burs. Previously cervical preflaring, the canals were thoroughly filled with India ink and the initial photographs were taken using a digital camera fixed in a static position. Right after, apical preparation was performed using 20.02 to 45.02 K3® rotary instruments. At each change of file, the canals were refilled with India ink and the final photographs were taken for each instrument. The initial and final photographs were superimposed and linear dentin removal produced by each type of rotary instrument was measured with specific software at the internal and external portions of the curvature apex and at the canal apex. The difference between the initial and final values was analyzed statistically, according to each canal region. Statistical analysis by linear regression established a correlation between instrument size and canal transportation, which can be expressed by a mathematical equation. This correlation is directly proportional, which means that the greater instrument, the more accentuated the canal transportation. Additionally, Kruskal- Wallis test (complemented by the Dunn\' post-test) allowed comparing dentin removal among the different experimental groups. These tests revealed that the non-flared group presented different dentin removal patterns, as compared to the groups where cervical preflaring was undertaken. The group without preflaring presented a significantly greater dentin removal on the external side of curvature, while the groups preflared with CP Drill® and LA Axxess® exhibited similar dentin removal patterns, demonstrating a greater centralization of the instrument inside the canal, for both analyzed regions (curvature apex and canal apex). It may be concluded that cervical preflaring influenced positively the apical preparation of simulated curved canals, producing more centralized preparations in this region.

A proposta desse estudo in vitro foi avaliar a influência do pré-alargamento cervical no desgaste apical de canais simulados curvos preparados com instrumentos rotatórios de níquel-titânio. Foram confeccionados 30 blocos de resina com canais simulados de 20 graus de curvatura que foram divididos aleatoriamente em três grupos distintos (n=10) de acordo com o tipo de alargamento cervical realizado: Grupo I - sem alargamento cervical; Grupo II - alargamento cervical realizado com brocas CP Drill®; Grupo III - alargamento cervical realizado com brocas LA Axxess®. Previamente ao alargamento cervical os canais foram preenchidos com tinta nanquim em toda sua extensão e realizaram-se as fotografias iniciais com auxílio de máquina digital posicionada em estativa. Para o preparo apical utilizaram-se instrumentos rotatórios K3® na seqüência de 20.02 até 45.02, sendo que, entre o intervalo do uso de cada instrumento o canal foi preenchido, novamente, com tinta nanquim e realizada a fotografia final para cada instrumento. As fotografias pré e pós-operatórias foram sobrepostas e procedeu-se a mensuração do desgaste linear da parede interna e externa do canal simulado no ápice da curvatura e no ápice do canal proporcionado por cada instrumento, com auxílio do software Image Tool. A diferença entre esses valores, de acordo com cada área do canal avaliada, foi submetida à análise estatística. O teste de Regressão Linear permitiu estabelecer uma correlação entre o calibre do instrumento e o desgaste do canal, que pode ser traduzida em uma equação matemática, indicando que é diretamente proporcional. O teste de Kruskal-Wallis (complementado com pós-teste de Dunn) permitiu a comparação do desgaste entre os diferentes grupos experimentais. Por meio desses testes pode-se observar que grupo onde não foi realizado o pré-alargamento cervical apresentou padrões de desgastes diferentes daqueles onde o preparo foi executado. O grupo sem pré-alargamento provocou o desgaste acentuado do lado externo da curvatura, enquanto os grupos preparados com CP Drill® e LA Axxess® mostraram padrões de desgaste semelhantes, denotando a maior centralização do instrumento no canal em ambas as regiões analisadas (ápice da curva e ápice do canal). Pode-se concluir que o pré-alargamento cervical influenciou de forma positiva no preparo da região apical de canais simulados curvos, proporcionando preparos mais centralizados dessa região. / The purpose of this in vitro study was to evaluate the influence of cervical preflaring on prepared canal shape in simulated curved root canals prepared with nickel-titanium rotary systems. Thirty resin blocks with simulated canals with 20º curvature were fabricated and randomly assigned to three groups (n=10) according to the type of cervical preflaring: Group I - no cervical preflaring; Group II - cervical preflaring with CP Drill® burs; Group III - cervical preflaring with LA Axxess® burs. Previously cervical preflaring, the canals were thoroughly filled with India ink and the initial photographs were taken using a digital camera fixed in a static position. Right after, apical preparation was performed using 20.02 to 45.02 K3® rotary instruments. At each change of file, the canals were refilled with India ink and the final photographs were taken for each instrument. The initial and final photographs were superimposed and linear dentin removal produced by each type of rotary instrument was measured with specific software at the internal and external portions of the curvature apex and at the canal apex. The difference between the initial and final values was analyzed statistically, according to each canal region. Statistical analysis by linear regression established a correlation between instrument size and canal transportation, which can be expressed by a mathematical equation. This correlation is directly proportional, which means that the greater instrument, the more accentuated the canal transportation. Additionally, Kruskal- Wallis test (complemented by the Dunn\' post-test) allowed comparing dentin removal among the different experimental groups. These tests revealed that the non-flared group presented different dentin removal patterns, as compared to the groups where cervical preflaring was undertaken. The group without preflaring presented a significantly greater dentin removal on the external side of curvature, while the groups preflared with CP Drill® and LA Axxess® exhibited similar dentin removal patterns, demonstrating a greater centralization of the instrument inside the canal, for both analyzed regions (curvature apex and canal apex). It may be concluded that cervical preflaring influenced positively the apical preparation of simulated curved canals, producing more centralized preparations in this region.

Magister Scientiae Dentium - MSc(Dent) / NiTi rotary instruments have shape memory and are highly flexible and super-elastic. These properties of the metal alloy allows for ease of root canal preparation to ultimately result in a root canal preparation that has a continuous taper, while canal shape and curvature is maintained. It must be noted that the NiTi rotary instrumentation may have an effect on root canal dentine, which may manifest as dentine damage. Different NiTi rotary systems on the market vary with regards to their design features and kinematics, which may influence dentine damage. The purpose of this in-vitro study was to compare the effect of four different NiTi rotary systems, as well as stainless steel files on root canal dentine. One hundred and eighty permanent human mandibular molar mesial roots were used for the study. The total samples were randomly divided into six groups, where one group (n=30) was left unprepared to serve as the control group. The remaining five groups were randomly assigned to a nickel-titanium rotary instrumentation system and one stainless steel hand file group. Group 1: Control group; Group 2: Stainless steel files group; Group 3: Wave One (Dentsply Maillefer) rotary group; Group 4: ProTaper NEXT (Dentsply Maillefer) rotary group; Group 5: iRaCe (FKG Dentaire) rotary group; Group 6: BT-Race (FKG Dentaire) rotary group.The root canal preparations were carried out according to the manufacturers' recommendations, after decoronation of the tooth crowns. Sodium hypochlorite (5,25%) and 17% EDTA was used as a root canal irrigant and a chelating agent during canal preparation. Each root segment was sectioned at 3mm, 6mm and 9mm from the apex. The root segments were observed under a stereomicroscope at 12x magnification and digital camera at 40 x magnification for the appearance of dentine damage. The images were observed by the author and an impartial second observer. Root segments were observed for the appearance of dentine damage (microcracks, craze lines or fractures), and samples were described as having 'dentine defect' or 'no dentine defect'. Data for the different groups were collected and results were calculated and the total incidence of dentine damage was as follows: Control group = 0% Stainless steel hand files group = 0% Wave One group = 56, 67% ProTaper NEXT group = 60% iRaCe group = 60% BT-Race group = 56, 67% There are no significant differences between the groups: WaveOne, ProTaper NEXT, iRACE and BT-Race. However, there is a significant difference between the four groups and the stainless steel group (p<0.0001).