RESUMO
This study aims to evaluate the surface defects and efficiency of two single file rotary systems with different surface treatments in curved root canal instrumentation. A total of 160 root canals were randomly divided into two groups and were subjected to root canal instrumentation with electropolished surface rotary file (Group 1) and with EDM surface treated rotary file (Group 2). All the files were then subjected to SEM analysis to evaluate the surface defects prior to the root canal instrumentation,after 5 uses and 8 uses inside the root canal. From the scanning electron microscopic images, the surface defects as observed were scored and were statistically analyzed. SEM analysis of both the single file systems revealed significantly varying surface defects. Rotary file with electropolishing appeared to be more resistant to deformation compared to the rotary file with EDM treatment after instrumentation of five canals. Hence it can be concluded that electropolished file can be safely instrumented for five times compared to EDM processed files in curved root canals.