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The introduction of nickel-titanium rotary instruments revolutionized shaping procedures as they were able to produce a well-tapered preparation while reducing operator fatigue. The major drawback of rotary instruments was the high risk of fracture due to bending and torsional stress. Thus, the creation of a glide path has been advocated and recommended by most rotary instrument manufacturers. The aim of the present review is to summarize existing knowledge on glide path preparation and identify areas where further research is needed. The primary goal is to provide a comprehensive overview of the techniques and instruments used in glide path preparation, highlighting their advantages and limitations. The secondary goal is to explore the effect of glide path creation on the overall success of endodontic treatment, particularly in terms of reducing procedural errors and improving treatment outcomes. An online search on PubMed, ScienceDirect, UCLA, and Scopus databases was conducted, and 116 articles were identified. Eligible articles were divided into nine categories based on what they researched and compared. The categories included centering ability and/or root canal transportation, cyclic fatigue resistance, glide path and shaping time, tortional stress resistance, apical extrusion of debris and/or bacteria, defects in dentine walls, file separation, postoperative pain assessment, and scouting ability and performance. Establishing a glide path reduces root canal transportation, especially with rotary methods. Reciprocating and heat-treated files offer higher fatigue resistance and shorter preparation time. Instruments with shorter pitch lengths have greater torsional strength. Preparation and coronal preflaring reduce apical debris and bacteria. Glide paths do not affect dentine microcracks, file separation, or defects but reduce immediate postoperative pain and improve cutting ability. Randomized trials are needed to assess their impact on treatment outcomes.

Objectives: The article's aim is to test if rotary or reciprocating glide path influences the overall performance of WaveOne Gold in S-shaped canals., Methods: Sixty endo training blocks with an S-shape curvature were divided into three groups based on the glide path method used: no glide path; glide path preparation with ProGlider; glide path preparation with WaveOne Gold Glider. All blocks were then shaped with WaveOne Gold Primary. The time for shaping, the incidence in reaching working length and the number of pecking motions were recorded. ANOVA with Turkey's test was used, and the p -value was set to 0.05., Results: WaveOne Gold Primary reached working length faster in the control group when comparing total working times. No significant differences in the ability of the WaveOne Gold Primary to reach working length in all groups ( p > 0.05). The mean number of pecking motions was higher in the control group compared to other groups., Conclusions: No significant differences in the time needed to achieve a glide path between Proglider and WaveOne Gold Glider. WaveOne Gold Primary can shape a double curved canal faster if a glide path is present but takes less time to reach length if it is the only file used. No difference in the ability to reach working length.