Abstract

NINO-BARRERA, Javier L.; SANCHEZ-ALEMAN, José A.; GAMBOA-MARTINEZ, Luis  and  CORTES-RODRIGUEZ, Carlos. Resistance to fracture due to cyclic fatigue of stainless steel manual files and its association to surface roughness. Acta odontol. latinoam. [online]. 2021, vol.34, n.1, pp.18-26.  Epub Apr 01, 2021. ISSN 0326-4815.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the possible association between the roughness of 5 brands of stainless steel endodontic files and their resistance to fracture due to cyclic fatigue. The study includedfive different brands of stainless steel endodontic files: SybroEndo Triple-Flex Files (Kerr, Glendora, USA), Ready Steel K-Flexofile (Dentsply Sirona, Ballaigues, Switzerland), Mani Flexile Files (Mani, Tochigi- Ken, Japan), FKG K-Files (FKG, La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland) and Zipperer Flexicut Files (VDW, Munich, Germany). Twelve files per brand (total 60 files) were evaluated. File surface roughness over an area (Sa) was quantified using a focus variation microscope. Then the files were subject to a cyclical fatigue test to determine the number cycles to fracture due to fatigue and length of fractured fragment. Finally, fractographic analysis was performed using a scanning electron microscope. The electropolished Ready Steel K-Flexofile® files had the highest roughness according to Sa parameters, though they also had the highest resistance to fracture due to cyclic fatigue and the longest fractured fragment. Moderate positive correlation was found between fractured fragment length and roughness. The fractured surface showed characteristics of ductile fracture with cracks and plastic deformation. The electropolished stainless steel Ready Steel K-Flexofile® files werethe most resistant to fracture due to cyclic fatigue even though they had highest surface roughness.

Keywords : dental instruments; endodontics; flexural strength; root canal preparation; stainless steel.

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