Shaping ability of BioRace, ProTaper NEXT and Genius nickel-titanium instruments in curved canals of mandibular molars: a MicroCT study.

AIM: To evaluate and compare the canal shaping ability of BioRace, ProTaper NEXT and Genius engine-driven nickel-titanium (NiTi) file systems in extracted mandibular first molars using micro-computed tomography (MCT).

METHODOLOGY: Sixty mesial root canals of mandibular first molars were randomly divided into three equal groups, according to the instrument system used for root canal preparation (n = 20): BioRace (BR), ProTaper NEXT (PTN) or Genius (GN). Root canals were prepared to the full WL using a crown-down technique up to size 35, .04 taper instruments for BR and GN groups and size 30, .07 taper instruments for the PTN group. MCT was used to scan the specimens before and after canal instrumentation. Changes in dentine volume, the percentage of uninstrumented canal surface and degree of canal transportation were evaluated in the coronal, middle and apical thirds of canals. Data were analysed statistically using one-way analysis of variance and Tuckey's post hoc tests with the significance level set at 5%.

RESULTS: There were no significant differences between the three groups in the terms of dentine removed after preparation and determination of the root canal volume, or percentage of uninstrumented canal surface (P > 0.05). No significant differences were found between the systems for canal transportation in any canal third (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS: The shaping ability of the BR, PTN and GN NiTi file systems was equally effective. All instrumentation systems prepared curved root canal systems with no evidence of undesirable changes in 3D parameters or significant shaping errors.