Clinical evaluation of instrumentation time and quality of obturation using paediatric hand and rotary file systems with conventional hand K-files for pulpectomy in primary mandibular molars: a double-blinded randomized controlled trial.

Aim: The present study aims to comparatively evaluate the instrumentation time and obturation quality using paediatric manual (Kedo-SH) and rotary (Kedo-S and Kedo-SG Blue) with conventional manual (Hand K-files) instrumentation technique for pulpectomy in primary mandibular molars.

Materials And Methods: A double-blinded randomized controlled trial was designed, recruiting participants with pulpally involved primary mandibular molars requiring pulpectomy in the age group of 6-9 years old. Sixty primary mandibular molars were randomly allocated to either of the four intervention groups: Group I: 15 teeth were instrumented using hand K-files (control group); Group II: 15 teeth were instrumented with paediatric rotary files (Kedo-S); Group III: 15 teeth were instrumented with paediatric hand files Kedo-SH (experimental group) and Group IV: 15 teeth were instrumented with paediatric rotary file system Kedo-SG Blue. Instrumentation time was recorded during root canal preparation and post-operative quality of obturation in each group was also assessed. Extracted data was subjected to statistical analysis using Chi-square, One-way ANOVA and post hoc Tukey test.

Results: Mean instrumentation time was significantly reduced for Kedo-SG Blue (2.7840 ± 0.34217) min-s followed by Kedo-S (3.4827 ± 0.48657), Kedo-SH (5.8800 ± 0.48345) min-s and hand K-files (6.2167 ± 0.30978) min-s (p = 0.0005). A statistically significant difference was found in the obturation quality (p = 0.001) between the four groups with higher percentage of optimal fillings observed with rotary Kedo-SG Blue (80%) followed by Kedo-SH (46.7%); Kedo-S (40.0%) and hand K-files (20%).

Conclusions: On comparative evaluation, a marked reduction in instrumentation time and superior quality of obturation was found with rotary Kedo-SG Blue file system followed by Kedo-SH, Kedo-S and hand K-files.