Effects of Reciproc, ProTaper Next and WaveOne Gold on Root Canal Walls: A Stereomicroscope Analysis

The aim of this study was to analyse the potential occurrence of dentinal defects after root canal preparation using three engine-driven instruments.
Methods and Materials: Eighty permanent mandibular incisors were selected. Twenty teeth did not undergo preparation, and the remaining teeth were divided into three groups (n=20): Reciproc (REC), ProTaper Next (PTN) and WaveOne Gold (WOG). The samples were dyed with methylene blue, sectioned perpendicularly to the long axis in 3-, 6- and 9-mm slices and were finally observed under a stereomicroscope (under 25×). The absence/presence of dentinal defects was documented by two blind observers. The data were analysed using Pearson’s chi-squared test with a confidence level of 95% (P=0.05). The time to prepare the samples was recorded, and the groups were compared using F-test (ANOVA).
The control group did not present any defects, and the differences between the control and experimental groups were statistically significant (P All the used instruments caused dentinal defects in the root dentin. All the instruments were used to perform the preparation with a similar average time.