Influence of the glide path on various parameters of root canal prepared with WaveOne reciprocating file using cone beam computed tomography.

Background: Nickel-titanium (NiTi) rotary instrumentation carries a risk of fracture, mainly as a result of flexural (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-file 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 files to the WL. Canals were scanned in a CBCT unit before and after instrumentation. Postinstrumentation changes in canal curvature, cross-sectional 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 significantly for canal transportation in Group 2.

Conclusion: WaveOne NiTi files appeared to maintain the original canal anatomy and the presence of a glide path further improves their performance and was found to be beneficial for all the parameters tested in this study.