Comparison Of Debris Removal Efficiency Of Different Endodontic File Systems

Aim:
This study aimed to compare four different rotary root canal shaping systems—ProTaper Next, ProTaper Ultimate, VDW.Rotate, and XP-Endo Shaper—in terms of their instrumentation time and material removal capacity using standardized resin canal models.

Methodology:
Eighty transparent acrylic root canal blocks with a standardized straight canal configuration (ISO size 15, 0.02 taper) were randomly assigned to four experimental groups (n = 20 each), each prepared with one of the tested systems. All procedures were performed by a single operator following manufacturers’ protocols using a torque-controlled endodontic motor. Instrumentation time was measured using a digital stopwatch. Material removal was assessed by calculating the percentage weight loss of the blocks before and after preparation. Data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA, Kruskal-Wallis test, and Pearson correlation, with a significance level set at p < 0.05.

Results:
XP-Endo Shaper showed the shortest preparation time, whereas ProTaper Ultimate exhibited the longest (p < 0.001). The XP-Endo group also demonstrated the highest material loss, significantly greater than ProTaper Next and VDW.Rotate (p < 0.001), while VDW.Rotate exhibited the most conservative dentin removal. A moderate positive correlation was found between preparation time and material loss (r = 0.579, p < 0.001).

Conclusions:
Rotary file systems differ significantly in shaping efficiency and dentin preservation. The XP-Endo Shaper offered superior time efficiency but removed more material, while VDW.Rotate preserved dentin more effectively. These findings may guide clinicians in selecting instrumentation systems based on clinical priorities. Further studies in natural teeth are warranted to validate these results.