Influence of the Number of Pecking Motions at Working Length on the Shaping Ability of Single-file Systems in Long Oval-shaped Curved Canals

Introduction: The present study compared the effect of the number of pecking motions at the working length (WL) on the shaping ability of single-file systems in long oval-shaped curved root canals. Methods: Single-rooted mandibular premolars with long oval-shaped curved canals (25°–35°) were prescanned using micro–computed tomographic imaging, anatomically paired, and randomly divided into 3 groups (n = 15): XP-endo Shaper (XPS; FKG Dentaire, La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland), Reciproc Blue (RB; VDW, Munich, Germany), and WaveOne Gold (WOG; Dentsply Sirona, Ballaigues, Switzerland). After preparation to the WL, each specimen underwent 1, 2, 4, 10, or 20 pecking motions to the WL and was rescanned. Morphologic parameters were measured and analyzed using a 2-factor repeated measures analysis of variance and the Scheirer-Ray-Hare test. Results: The minor apical diameter and percentage increase in canal volume increased with the number of pecking motions, whereas the percentage of unprepared canal surface area decreased (P < .05). The mean minor diameters (in mm) at D0 varied between 0.29 and 0.35 after 4 pecking motions with the RB and WOG systems and between 0.35 and 0.36 after 10 pecking motions with the XPS system. No significant differences in canal transportation or centering ratio were observed among the groups at the levels of canal curvature and canal thirds (P > .05). Conclusions: Increasing the number of pecking motions improves the cutting efficacy of single-file systems without adversely altering the anatomic characteristics of oval-shaped curved canals. No more than 4 pecking motions for the RB and WOG systems and 10 pecking motions for the XPS system appear to be acceptable for the shaping of these difficult to clean root canals.