RESUMO
INTRODUCTION: The purpose of this study was to compare the occurrence of microcracks in teeth prepared with different retreatment systems using microcomputed tomography (micro-CT). METHODS: Forty-two freshly extracted mandibular premolar teeth were used. The root canals were instrumented with stainless steel K-files to an apical size of 35/.02 using the balanced-force technique and were obturated using the passive compaction technique. The specimens were divided into 3 experimental groups according to retreatment system used (n = 14): ProTaper Universal retreatment (PTUR), Mtwo retreatment (MTR), or D-RaCe retreatment (D-RC) systems. Each specimen was scanned using a high-resolution micro-CT system before instrumentation, after obturation, and after the removal of the filling material. The images were evaluated, and the presence of microcracks was recorded. RESULTS: The PTUR system demonstrated the highest percentage, while MTR and D-RC retreatment systems resulted in similar numbers of microcracks. CONCLUSIONS: Clinicians should be aware that all retreatment systems may cause microcracks.
