Static and Dynamic Cyclic Fatigue Resistance of Nickel-Titanium Rotary Instruments in a Double-Curved Stainless Steel Artificial Canal

The present study aims to measure the number of cycles leading to fracture (NCF) of instruments in static and dynamic cyclic fatigue situations under body temperature in stainless steel double-curved canals. The framework was constructed to establish the movement of instruments occurring at a stable body temperature. A step motor, a holding system for an endodontic handpiece, created the movement in and out of the artificial canal of the file mounted on the handpiece. A total of 30 instruments of ProTaper Universal and ProTaper Next (Dentsply Sirona, Maillefer, Ballaigues, Switzerland) were divided into three groups of 10 per group. For group 1 (10 PTU F2), files were rotated in static cycles. For groups 2 (10 PTU F2) and 3 (10 PTN X2), files were rotated in dynamic cycles. Files were rotated using proprietary programs, and the times the files were rotated before fracture were recorded. Data were analyzed using survival probabilities and regression with life data. The ProTaper Next in the dynamic cycles had the largest NCF, and the ProTaper Universal in the static condition had the least. New modes of rotation, material, and design have affected the cyclic fatigue resistance of the instrument.

Automated summary

The study aimed to measure the number of cycles leading to fracture (NCF) in stainless steel double-curved canals under static and dynamic cyclic fatigue situations at body temperature. Different groups of ProTaper Universal and ProTaper Next instruments were tested using proprietary programs and the rotations before fracture were recorded. The results showed that ProTaper Next had the highest NCF in dynamic cycles, while ProTaper Universal had the lowest NCF in static condition. The study suggests that factors such as rotation modes, materials, and design influence the cyclic fatigue resistance of the instruments.