Infl uence of the glide path on various parameters of root canal prepared with WaveOne reciprocating fi le using cone beam computed tomography

Abstract

Background: Nickel–titanium (NiTi) rotary instrumentation carries a risk of fracture, mainly

as a result of fl exural (fatigue fracture) and torsional (shear failure) stresses. This risk might be

reduced by creating a glide path before NiTi rotary instrumentation. The aim of this study was to

compare various root canal parameters with the new WaveOne single-fi le reciprocating system

in mesial canals of mandibular molars with and without glide path using cone beam computed

tomography (CBCT).

Materials and Methods: One hundred mandibular molar teeth with canal curvature between

20° and 30° were divided into two groups of 50 teeth each. In Group 1, no glide path was created,

whereas in Group 2, a glide path was created with PathFiles at working length (WL). In both groups,

canals were shaped with WaveOne primary reciprocating fi les to the WL. Canals were scanned in a

CBCT unit before and after instrumentation. Postinstrumentation changes in canal curvature, crosssectional

area, centric ability, residual dentin thickness, and the extent of canal transportation were

calculated using image analysis software and subjected to statistical analysis. Data were analyzed

using Student’s t-test and Mann–Whitney U-test (P < 0.05).

Results: The mean difference of root canal curvature, cross-sectional area, centric ability, and residual

dentin thickness increased, whereas it reduced signifi cantly for canal transportation in Group 2.

Conclusion: WaveOne NiTi fi les appeared to maintain the original canal anatomy and the presence

of a glide path further improves their performance and was found to be benefi cial for all the

parameters tested in this study.

Key Words: Cone beam computed tomography, glide path, reciprocating motion, WaveOne fi les