SummaryThe aims of this study were to develop a model system capable of monitoring lateral forces during root canal preparation and to measure the cutting ability of files activated by the MM 1500 sonic handpiece. Forces were monitored by a calibrated model system which utilized a combination of spring steel beams fitted with strain gauges, these were interfaced through two strain gauge amplifiers to an x‐y recorder. Single rooted canine teeth (n= 36; 32 experimental, four control) were mounted in a two‐part acrylic mould (which was an integral part of the model system) prior to sectioning horizontally 11 mm from the tooth apex. A 24full factorial experiment with two replications was performed. Four variables were selected for evaluation, load (50 and 100 g), power (air inlet ring half or fully open), file type (Heliosonic or Shaper) and stroke rate (1 or 2 cycles per second). A new file (size 25) was used for 1 min in each canal with water irrigation. The control group was not instrumented. The cross‐sectional root canal area was measured before and after instrumentation using image analysis and increase in area was used as an indication of cutting ability. The results showed that the increase in load, power and the Shaper file all produced a significant increase in cutting ability (ANOVA,P0.05). None of the interactions between the variables were significant and there was no significant difference in the control group (P>0.05). In conclusion, this work has developed a model system to monitor lateral forces and has shown that instrument design and operator usage affect dentine removal from a root canal
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