Root Canal Shaping Effect of Instruments with Offset Mass of Rotation in the Mandibular First Molar: A Micro computed Tomographic Study

Introduction: The aim of this study was to evaluate the root canal shaping effect of 2 nickel-titanium rotary instruments with offset mass of rotation compared with an instrument with a conventional centered mass of rotation. Methods: Thirty-six extracted human mandibular first molars with 2 independent mesial canals and 1 oval distal canal were selected and divided equally into 3 groups for instrumentation with ProTaper Next (PTN; Dentsply Maillefer, Ballaigues, Switzerland), Revo-S (RS; Micro-Mega, Besancon, France), and ProTaper Universal (PTU, Dentsply Maillefer) systems (n = 12). For apical preparation, PTN X2 (#25/0.06), RS SU (#25/0.06), and PTU F2 (#25/0.08) were used in the mesial canals and PTN X3 (#30/0.07), RS AS30 (#30/0.06), and PTU F3 (#30/0.09) were used in the distal canals. Specimens were scanned before and after instrumentation using a SkyScan 1272 scanner (Bruker micro-CT, Kontich, Belgium) at 10-mu m isotropic resolution. Changes in the canal area, volume, structure model index (SMI), and untouched canal area were evaluated. Canal transportation and centering ratio were measured at 1, 3, 5, and 7 mm from the apical foramen. Data were statistically analyzed using 1-way analysis of variance with the Tukey post hoc test. Results: The PTN and RS systems showed significantly less transportation and better centering ability compared with the PTU system at 1 mm from the apical foramen (P < .05). All instrumentation increased the canal area, volume, and SMI values without significant differences among the 3 groups (P > .05). Conclusions: Regardless of the differences in the cross-sectional design, alloy type, and taper variation, instruments with offset mass of rotation showed better root canal shaping ability compared with an instrument with a centered mass of rotation.