Evaluation of the Fractured Surface of Five Endodontic Rotary Instruments: A Metallurgical Study

Introduction: The aim of this study was to compare several metallurgic properties of Neoniti instrument with four other commonly used endodontic rotary files. Methods and Materials: Neoniti A1 (25/0.08), RaCe (25/0.06), Mtwo (25/0.06), Twisted file (25/0.06) and ProTaper Next X2 (25/0.06) were examined by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) before and after heat treatment at 500°C. X-ray diffraction (XRD) was also performed on the specimens. Furthermore, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and x-ray energy-dispersive spectrometric (EDS) analyses were carried out on randomly selected fractured files. Results: In SEM tests, dimpled ruptures, characteristic of ductile fracture, were seen in all evaluated cross sections of all files. The SEM results of all evaluated files were alike. EDS results revealed higher proportions of Nickel (Ni) rich intermetallic compounds in Neoniti; whereas, in all the other files the proportion of Titanium (Ti) rich precipitates was higher. DSC results indicated that the temperature present in the oral environment, the austenite phase existed in all files. Mtwo and RaCe files did not show austenite transformation in the temperature range evaluated in this study. Only Neoniti revealed rhombohedal phase (R-phase) transformation. After heat treatment. No significant difference was seen in the transformation temperatures of all evaluated files. XRD evaluations revealed that Neoniti contained both Ni-rich and Ti-rich precipitates. The amount of the martensite phase was higher in ProTaper Next. Conclusion: The metallurgic properties of Neoniti files were different from other evaluated rotary files. This file contained higher proportions of Ni-rich precipitates.