RESUMO
PURPOSE: Pulpectomy can be used for the management of deep dentinal carious lesions in primary teeth which can be restored. Mechanical preparation of root canals can be performed using hand or NiTi rotary files. However, this may cause dentinal stress and consequently dentinal microcracks. Hence, the aim was comparative evaluation of hand and rotary file systems on dentinal microcrack formation during pulpectomy procedure in primary teeth. METHODS: 60 extracted primary molar teeth were selected comprising of 80 root canals. Simple random sampling was used to divide root canals into four groups (n = 20): Group A-Hedstrom file, Group B-Pro AF Baby Gold rotary, Group C-ProTaper Next rotary, and Group D-unprepared group. Assessment was conducted on presence or absence of microcracks using Chi square test (p < 0.05). RESULTS: The total number of microcracks in Group A: one (5%), Group B: four (20%), Group C: nine (45%) and Group D: zero (0%) which was statistically significant (p = 0.002). At cervical third, the number of microcracks seen with Group A: one (5%), Group B: zero (0%), Group C: five (25%) and Group D: zero (0%) (p = 0.005). At the middle third, the number of microcracks seen in Group A: zero (0%), Group B: four (20%), Group C: four (20%) and Group D: zero (0%) (p = 0.029). CONCLUSION: The study concluded that dentinal microcracks are formed with both hand and rotary file systems in primary teeth. ProTaper Next showed significantly higher number of microcracks, followed by ProAF Baby Gold and H files.