Effects of Different Glide Path Files on Apical Debris Extrusion in Curved Root Canals

Introduction: Creating a glide path before root canal preparation with nickel-titanium rotary files is essential to prevent the file fracture and to maintain the original root canal configuration. Both rotary glide path files and manual K-files are used to create a glide path. The aim of this study was to compare the amount of apically extruded debris after using different glide path files before preparing curved root canals with the WaveOne Gold single-file reciprocating system (Dentsply Maillefer, Ballaigues, Switzerland). Methods: Sixty extracted mandibular first molar teeth with curved mesial roots were selected for this study. The mesial roots of the teeth were removed from the cementoenamel junction. Cone-beam computed tomographic imaging was used to evaluate the curvature of the mesial root canals. Specimens were randomly divided into 6 experimental groups according to the root canal preparation (n = 10): group G-File, a glide path with G-Files (Micro-Mega, Besancon, France) + WaveOne Gold preparation; group One G, a glide path with One G (Micro-Mega, Besancon, France) + WaveOne Gold preparation; group ProGlider, a glide path with ProGlider (Dentsply Maillefer) + WaveOne Gold preparation; group PathFile, a glide path with PathFiles (Dentsply Maillefer) + WaveOne Gold; group K-files, a glide path with a K-file + WaveOne Gold preparation; and group without a glide path, WaveOne Gold preparation without a glide path file. Roots were attached to preweighed Eppendorf tubes. All instruments were used according to the manufacturers' instructions. During root canal preparation, a total of 8 mL distilled water was used for each specimen. Apically extruded debris was collected in Eppendorf tubes. After the completion of root canal preparation, Eppendorf tubes were removed from the specimens and stored in an incubator at 68 degrees C for 5 days. Eppendorf tubes were weighed after evaporation to calculate the amount of extruded debris. The data were statistically analyzed with 1-way analysis of variance and post hoc Tukey honest significant difference tests (P = .05). Results: A statistically significant difference was observed between the One G and K-File groups. The One G group was associated with significantly less debris extrusion than the K-file group. There was no statistically significant difference between K-files and ProGlider, G-Files, PathFiles, and WaveOne Gold without a glide path, and also there was no statistically significant difference between One G and ProGlider, G-Files, PathFiles, and WaveOne Gold without a glide path. All experimental groups caused apical debris extrusion. Conclusions: Under the conditions of this in vitro study, all rotary path file systems were associated with similar apical debris extrusion before preparing root canals with the WaveOne Gold single-file reciprocating system. K-files caused more apically extruded debris than the One G files.