COMPARATIVE EVALUATION OF ROOT CANAL FILLING REMOVAL EFFICACY OF RECIPROCATING AND CONTINUOUS ROTARY INSTRUMENTS USING CBCT: AN IN VITRO STUDY

Abstract

This present-day study aimed to evaluate and compare the efficacy of manual, rotary, and reciprocating retreatment systems when removing gutta-percha root fillings from root canals using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). Forty human mandibular premolars with curvature ranging from 10-20 degrees were selected. Canals were prepared using hand Protaper instruments and obturation was done by using the cold lateral condensation technique. Obturated samples were randomly divided into four groups (n=10). Removal of root canal filling material was done using (Group I) Hedstrom files, (Group II) Protaper universal retreatment files, (Group III) Mani Gutta percha removal (GPR) files, and (Group IV) RECIPROC blue files respectively. The duration of the procedure including the required time to reach the working length was recorded. It was observed that Reciproc blue took least amount of time to completely remove the root canal filling filling material and reach the working length followed by Protaper universal retreatment group and Mani GPR (p<0.001). H-files had the maximum amount of remaining filling material and took significantly more time for the entire procedure compared to other file systems. It was concluded that RECIPROC Blue files performed best followed by Protaper Universal retreatment files and Mani GPR.