Apical transportation created using three different patency instruments

Abstract Gonzalez Sanchez JA, Duran-Sindreu F, AlbuquerqueMatos M, Garcia Caraban˜o T, Mercade Bellido M,Morello Castro S, Roig Cayo´nM. Apical transportationcreated using three different patency instruments. InternationalEndodontic Journal, 43, 560–564, 2010. Aim To evaluate root canal transportation at themajor foramen through the use of stainless steel size08 K-Flex files, size 10 reamers, and XF finger spreaderswhen used as patency instruments.Methodology One hundred and two mesiobuccalcanals of maxillary and mandibular first molars wererandomly divided into three groups (34 canals each).Size 08 stainless steel K-Flex files, size 10 stainless steelreamers and stainless steel XF finger spreaders wereused as patency instruments in groups A, B and Crespectively. The major foramen was photographedbefore and after instrumentation. The images weresuperimposed and then evaluated using Photoshop todetermine the frequency of apical transportation. Thestatistic analysis was performed using v 2 test.Results Transportation was detected in 22% of thespecimens; 9% in group A, 12% in group B and 44% ingroup C. Significant differences were observed betweengroups A and C (P = 0.0025) and between groups Band C (P = 0.0069), but not between groups A and B(P = 1.00).Conclusions No transportation was found in themajority of the samples when size 08 K-Flex files andsize 10 stainless steel reamers were used. The XF fingerspreaders, when used to maintain apical patency,caused the greatest transportation of the major fora-men.Keywords: apical transportation, patency file, rootcanal preparation.