Aim. To compare the effect of brushing motion on torsional and cyclic fatigue resistance of TF Adaptive instruments after clinical use. Methods. 20 packs of TFA small sequence (Sybro-nEndo, Orange, CA, USA) were used for this study and divided into two groups. Each instrument prepared one resin tooth, consisting in 4 canals with a complex anatomy. In group A, no brushing motion was performed. In group B, after the green instrument reached the working length, brushing motion with circumferential filing was performed for 15 seconds in each canal (overall 1 minute). All the instruments were then subjected to cyclic fatigue test and mean values and standard deviation for time to fracture were evaluated. Data were subjected to one-way analysis of variance and Bonferroni t-test procedure with a significance set at P < 0.05. Results. No instruments were broken during preparation of root canals. Two TF Adaptive green and 5 yellow showed unwinding after intra-canal clinical use. No statistically significant differences were found between green instruments of both groups (P > 0.05), while a statistically significant difference was found between the yellow instruments (P < 0.05), with group B showing an higher resistance to cyclic fatigue. Conclusions. A prolonged passive brushing motion did not adversely affected mechanical resistance of the instrument used for this purpose. Resistance to both deformations and cyclic fatigue of the second instrument within the TFA small sequence was enhanced by the coronal flaring provided by the brushing action of the first instrument used.

Calcified root canals of older people treated in this study were all accessible within a maximum of 60 min. The success rate after a follow-up of 3 years was 80%.

This study investigated the use of cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) by endodontists in Germany and Switzerland. Sixty-eight German endodontic specialists (G-ES), 22 Swiss endodontic specialists (CH-ES) and 95 dentists with a German Master of Science in endodontics (MSc) were invited to participate. Data on the timing of diagnostic assessments, endodontic case difficulty and indications for CBCT use were collected by questionnaire. The frequencies of pre-, intra-and postoperative use of periapical radiography and CBCT were analysed by case difficulty level. In high difficulty cases, access to a CBCT device was significantly associated with the frequency of both pre-and intraoperative CBCT use. The type of endodontic qualification had a significant impact on the rate of preoperative CBCT use in high difficulty cases. German endodontic specialists used preoperative CBCT more frequently than CH-ES and MSc. Our findings show that CBCT is a valuable imaging tool for endodontists, particularly in high difficulty cases.

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