THE QUALITY OF ULTRASONIC ROOT-END PREPARATION - A QUANTITATIVE STUDY

Ultrasonic root-end preparation techniques have recently been introduc ed and revolutionized the field of endodontic surgery. The purpose of this steady was to compare quantitatively the quality of root-end prep aration techniques prepared by a specially designed ultrasonic retroti p with those prepared in a traditional manner by a microhand-piece bur . Twenty roots with two canals and an isthmus from extracted maxillary human molars were selected for this study. After instrumentation, obt uration, and root-end resection, root-end preparations were made using either an ultrasonic retrotip or a conventional microhandpiece bur. W ith the aid of the image processing and analysis system, the specimens were inspected under a stereomicroscope for further evaluation of the quality of the shape and size of preparation. The results of this inv estigation showed that the ultrasonic root-end preparations produced m ore conservative and less perforated cavities than those made with con ventional microhandpiece bur preparations.