RESUMO
OBJECTIVES: To compare the clinical use of a single-file NiTi reciprocal system (sNiTi) to that of stainless steel hand file (SSH) instrumentation in primary tooth pulpectomy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A prospective randomized clinical trial was conducted in 34 healthy children aged 3-7 years. Thirty-seven mandibular primary molars were randomly assigned to two groups: sNiTi and SSH. Instrumentation time, obturation time, quality of obturation, and 6- and 12-month clinical and radiographic outcomes were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: The median instrumentation time using sNiTi (3.23 min) was significantly shorter than that for SSH (7.38 min). Obturation times were not different. The quality of obturation was significantly different only in the mesial root canals; overfilling was seen more in the sNiTi group, while underfilling occurred more in the SSH group. At 6 and 12 months, both groups showed comparable clinical and radiographic success regardless of the type of instrumentation. CONCLUSIONS: sNiTi shortens instrumentation time with comparable obturation time, overall quality of obturation, and clinical and radiographic outcomes with SSH. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Pulpectomy is indicated to prevent premature loss of primary teeth with irreversible inflamed or infected pulp. However, it is complicated and time-consuming. sNiTi reciprocating system is an alternative to hand filing technique, avoiding multiple steps and simplifying pulpectomy procedures.
