Abstract
Introduction: The aim of this study was to quantify the debris extruded after instrumentation with two reciprocating systems.
Materials and Methods: Thirty-six mandibular premolars with a single straight root canal and apical diameter compatible with a size 15 K-file were randomly divided into two groups (n = 18) according to the instrument used: RC Blue (Perfect, China) and Reciproc Blue (VDW; Munich, Germany). The dental roots were inserted into Eppendorf tubes up to the cement-enamel junction and weighed before instrumentation. The teeth were instrumented with one of the two systems up to a predetermined working length (20 mm). The root canals were instrumented by root thirds. In each instrumented third, the canal was irrigated with 3 mL of distilled water. The tubes were weighed again three times, and the amount of extruded debris was calculated by subtracting the average initial weight from the average final weight. The results were analyzed using Biostat 5.3 and subjected to the Shapiro-Wilk normality test. The sample exhibited non-normal behavior and was analyzed using the Kruskal-Wallis test (Student-Newman-Keuls) with a significance level of 5%.
Results: No significant difference was observed in the extrusion of debris between the RC Blue and Reciproc Blue systems (p > 0.05).
Conclusion: Both tested reciprocating systems produced equivalent amounts of debris extruded apically after instrumentation of the mandibular premolars.