The effects of hand, sonic and ultrasonic instrumentation on the shape of curved root canals

Abstract

This study compared the effects of hand, sonic and ultrasonic instrumentation on the shape of curved root canals in 60 extracted human lateral incisors and premolars. Each root of moderate or severe canal curvature was mounted onto a simulated crown and filled with a radiocontrast medium. Enlarged photographic prints obtained from radiographs taken before and after root canal preparation were measured. The results indicated a lower incidence of apical zip and elbow formation in the ultrasonic preparations when compared with those prepared by hand and sonic, irrespective of the canal curvature. A more prominent hour-glass shape was prepared by hand and sonic instruments particularly in severely curved root canals. A distinctive taper was produced by each method of preparation. All three instrumentation techniques showed preferential dentine removal from the convex aspect of the canal in the apical portion and the concave aspect in the middle portion of the root canal.