Apically extruded debris during root canal preparation using Vortex Blue, K3XF, ProTaper Next and Reciproc instruments

AimTo assess the amount of debris extruded apically during root canal preparation using various nickel-titanium instrumentation systems. MethodologySixty extracted single-rooted mandibular premolar human teeth were randomly assigned to four groups (n=15 teeth for each group). The canals were then instrumented with the following instrument systems: Vortex Blue (VB; Dentsply Tulsa Dental, Tulsa, OK, USA), K3XF (SybronEndo, Orange, CA, USA), Reciproc (VDW, Munich, Germany) and ProTaper Next (PTN; Dentsply Maillefer, Ballaigues, Switzerland). Apically extruded debris during instrumentation was collected into pre-weighed Eppendorf tubes. The Eppendorf tubes were then stored in an incubator at 70 degrees C for 5days. The weight of the dry extruded debris was established by subtracting the pre-instrumentation and post-instrumentation weight of the Eppendorf tubes for each group. The data were analysed using one-way analysis of variance (anova) and Tukey's post hoc tests. ResultsVortex Blue and PTN files were associated with significantly less apically extruded debris than the K3XF and Reciproc files (P<0.05), but there was no significant difference between the VB and PTN files or between the K3XF and Reciproc files (P>0.05). ConclusionsAll instruments were associated with apical extrusion of debris. VB and PTN files were associated with less debris extrusion compared to the other systems.