Comparative evaluation of stress distribution against the root canal wall at three different levels using novel NiTi rotary files – A finite element analysis

Abstract

Recent innovations in the physical and mechanical features of endodontic file systems have diminished the prospect of stress generation and fracture risk in novel endodontic files. The purpose of this research was to comparatively evaluate the stress distribution of recently introduced endodontic rotary files with distinct features and metallurgy at three different levels of the root canal wall by finite element analysis. Forty endodontic files were used in this experiment after being inspected through a scanning electron microscope for any surface deformities. Based on their metallurgy and design, the scanned files were divided into four groups, each with 10 samples: Group A-2Shape files, Group B-F360, Group C-One Curve, and Group D-TruNatomy. To assess the mechanical behavior of these files, the stress produced by computer-aided models of these instruments on the dentinal wall of a simulated root canal was numerically analyzed using ANSYS® 15 Workbench finite element software. A one-way ANOVA was used to assess all the raw data with post hoc Tukey analysis, the Shapiro–Wilk test, and Levene’s test. F360 files exerted the maximum stress on the dentinal wall, while TruNatomy files exerted the least stress at all the distinct levels of dentinal walls. There was no statistically significant variation in the stress generated between the four groups. Therefore, it can be concluded that improvements in rotary file design and metallurgy have the potential to reduce the stress during canal shaping and the risk of instrument breakage during clinical use.