ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: The goal of the present study was to evaluate the influence of surface grooves (peaks and valleys) resulting from machining during the manufacturing process of polished and unpolished nickel-titanium BR4C endodontic files on the fatigue life of the instruments. METHODS: Ten electropolished and 10 unpolished endodontic files were provided by the manufacturer. Specimens were from the same batch, but the unpolished instruments were removed from the production line before surface treatment. The instruments were evaluated with a profilometer to quantify the surface roughness on the working part of the instruments. Then the files were subjected to rotating bending fatigue tests. RESULTS: Analysis with the profilometer showed that surface grooves were deeper on the unpolished instruments compared with their electropolished counterparts. In the rotating bending fatigue test, the mean and standard deviation for the number of cycles until fracture (NCF) were greater for instruments with less pronounced grooves. Student t test revealed significant differences in all tests (P < .05). CONCLUSIONS: The results from the present study showed that the depth of the surface grooves on the working part affected the NCF of the instruments tested; the smaller the groove depth, the greater the NCF.
Subject(s)
Dental Alloys/chemistry , Nickel/chemistry , Root Canal Preparation/instrumentation , Rotation , Surface Properties , Titanium/chemistry , Anatomic Variation , Dental Instruments , Dental Polishing/methods , Dental Stress Analysis , Electrochemical Techniques , Equipment Design , Equipment Failure , Humans , Materials Testing , Mechanical Phenomena , Microscopy, Electron, Scanning , Pliability , Stainless Steel/chemistryABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: This study evaluated the influence of flexibility and reciprocating movement on the fatigue life of endodontic instruments subjected to static and dynamic tests. METHODS: The rotary nickel-titanium instruments used in this study were Reciproc and Mtwo. The instruments were initially subjected to a cantilever-bending test and then to static and dynamic fatigue tests. Reciproc instruments were operated in reciprocating movement, whereas Mtwo instruments were worked in continuous rotation. RESULTS: The means of bending resistance (maximum load in grams) of the instruments were 274.9 for Reciproc and 429 for Mtwo. The mean times (in seconds) to fracture of the instruments subjected to static and dynamic tests were 214.5 (static) and 286.3 (dynamic) for Reciproc and 38.9 (static) and 99 (dynamic) for Mtwo. The Student's t test revealed significant differences in all tests (P < .05). CONCLUSIONS: The results of the present study showed longer fatigue life for instruments with higher flexibility, driven by reciprocating movement, and in the dynamic testing model. These findings reinforce the assumption that use of reciprocating movement is a means to prolong the fatigue life of rotary nickel-titanium endodontic instruments during instrumentation of curved canals.
Subject(s)
Root Canal Preparation/instrumentation , Dental Alloys/chemistry , Dental Stress Analysis/instrumentation , Equipment Design , Equipment Failure , Humans , Materials Testing , Microscopy, Electron, Scanning , Movement , Nickel/chemistry , Pliability , Rotation , Stress, Mechanical , Surface Properties , Time Factors , Titanium/chemistryABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: This study evaluated the influence of different features of canal curvature geometry on the number of cycles to fracture of a rotary nickel-titanium endodontic instrument subjected to a cyclic fatigue test. METHODS: BioRaCe BR4C instruments (FKG Dentaire, La Chaux-de Fonds, Switzerland) were tested in 4 grooves simulating curved metallic artificial canals, each one measuring 1.5 mm in width, 20 mm in total length, and 3.5 mm in depth with a U-shaped bottom. The parameters of curvature including the radius and arc lengths and the position of the arc differed in the 4 canal designs. Fractured surfaces and helical shafts of the separated instruments were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy. RESULTS: The Student's t test showed that a significantly lower number of cycles to fracture values were observed for instruments tested in canals with the smallest radius, the longest arc, and the arc located in the middle portion of the canal. Scanning electron microscopic analysis of the fracture surfaces revealed morphologic characteristics of ductile fracture. Plastic deformation was not observed in the helical shaft of the fractured instruments. CONCLUSIONS: Curvature geometry including the radius and arc lengths and the position of the arc along the root canal influence the number of cycles to fracture of rotary nickel-titanium instruments subjected to flexural load.
Subject(s)
Dental Alloys/chemistry , Dental Pulp Cavity/anatomy & histology , Nickel/chemistry , Root Canal Preparation/instrumentation , Titanium/chemistry , Equipment Failure , Humans , Materials Testing , Microscopy, Electron, Scanning , Models, Anatomic , Pliability , Rotation , Stress, Mechanical , Surface PropertiesABSTRACT
No presente trabalho avaliou-se e comparou-se a carga necessária para induzir uma determinada deformação elástica de instrumentos endodônticos de NiTi mecanizados de mesmo número e de quatro marcas comerciais. Nos ensaios mecânicos de flexão em cantilever os instrumentos foram fixados em uma das extremidades e a carga aplicada na extremidade oposta. Os resultados obtidos demonstraram que em termos de flexibilidade: TF > BioRace > K3 > ProTaper.
In the present study evaluated and compared the load required to induce a certain elastic deformation of NiTi endodontic instruments mechanized same number and four trademarks. In the mechanical cantilever bending the instruments were set at one end and the load applied at the opposite end. The results showed that in terms of flexibility: TF> BioRace> K3> ProTaper.
