Safe Mechanical Preparation with Reciprocation Movement without Glide Path Creation: Result from a Pool of 673 Root Canals

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to prospectively assess the frequency of teeth in which the Reciproc instruments were able to reach the full working length (WL). This case series study enrolled 277 consecutive teeth requiring primary endodontic treatment performed with the Reciproc system (VDW) without a previous glide path by 3 experienced endodontists. Instruments R25, R40 or R50 were selected, respectively, for narrow, medium and large canals, according to the preoperative radiographs, as per manufacturer recommendation. Canals were instrumented and classified as reaching the full WL (RFWL) and not reaching the full WL (NRFWL), according to the ability of the Reciproc instrument to reach without a glide path the full electronically determined WL. Finally, canals were filled using a single matched cone technique. Pearson's squared-chi test compared the frequency distributions of canals classified as RFWL and NRFWL. From a total pool of 673 root canals, Reciproc instruments reached the FWL in 96.28% of cases and 3 fractures occurred. For narrow canals the percentage of RFWL was 95.37% with 3 fractures. For medium and large canals, the R40 or R50 instruments reached the FWL in 98.51% and 97.62% of the cases respectively, with no fracture. Enlarging of root canals using the Reciproc instruments up to the FWL without a glide path is successful in a great percentage of cases. This case series suggests the possibility of using a single instrument to enlarge the root canal space of teeth by a simpler approach without an a prioriglide path procedure.

Undergraduate Students’ Acceptance of a Reciprocating One-File System for Endodontic Treatment

“…The reasons for the good acceptance might be flexibility and fracture resistance of the Reciproc blue system. 3 Furthermore, the fact that the tested system allows a preparation without glide path 1 2 might have eased the use especially for the less trained clinician, even though in the students’ education, a glide path was always created interalia due to the increased fracture strength. 18 As a future recommendation, a comparison between rotating and reciprocating systems among students would be surely of interest.…”

“…In these systems, usually only one file is necessary for complete preparation, leading not only to a lower expenditure but also to a saving of time, since it made preflaring not mandatory anymore. [1][2][3] Complications such as file fracture, canal straightening, or perforation have become rarer and originally, canal anatomy is easier to respect, even in strongly curved canals. [4][5][6] Additionally, the critical hygienic treatment of the files can be avoided, since the reciprocating file systems are single-use instruments.…”

Comparison of the ability of Reciproc and Reciproc Blue instruments to reach the full working length with or without glide path preparation

“…Therefore, there was no significant between-group difference in RFWL, irrespective of the presence or absence of a glide path. Previously, several researchers reported the ability to use an RC instrument up to the WL without a glide path [ 13 16 ]. Bartols et al .…”

“…The glide path procedure reduces the incidence of taper locking, which refers to a phenomenon in which a file binds against the canal wall over the length of the its cutting blades [ 16 19 ]. Taper locking usually occurs when the instrument tip is larger than the canal cross-section.…”

“…Taper locking usually occurs when the instrument tip is larger than the canal cross-section. Without a glide path, the contact area between the instrument and canal walls increases, which may result in torsional stress [ 16 ]. Glide path preparation is well established as an important step before rotary instrumentation.…”