Use of a Static Endodontic Guide for Separated Endodontic Instrument Removal

Purpose: The study aimed to compare the volumetric changes in the root canal after separated endodontic instrument removal with two techniques. Material and methods: 20 intact, human premolars were divided into two groups according to the technique used for access to the head of the separated instrument – with a static endodontic guide or with ultrasonic U-files. For the next stages of the removal, an ultrasonic technique with magnification is applied. A comparative analysis of volumetric changes was performed on CBCT images. The data was processed with IBM SPSS and Minitab. The Shapiro-Wilk test and t-test were conducted. Results: The use of a static endodontic guide resulted in the removal of two times less dentin, with a statistical significance of the difference p=0.017. Conclusions: The use of a static endodontic guide is an alternative technique for accessing the separated endodontic instrument, which proved to be minimally invasive and can limit the application of ultrasound in “dry conditions”.