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Background: There is little information about dental anxiety and the patient's vital signs during dental procedures. This study evaluates and compare patient anxiety levels and cardiovascular changes before and during root canal treatment (RCT) and single-tooth implant procedures., Material and Methods: Preoperative data and pre-treatment considerations were recorded. HR and SpO2 were monitored during treatment procedures at five points. Data were analyzed accordingly using Mann Whitney or X2 tests. 80 patients met the inclusion criteria., Results: Anxiety and fear scores were strongly correlated ( p < 0.001). Both treatments resulted in low levels of dental anxiety and fear. Patients with a prior dental bad experience presented higher anxiety scores in the implant treatment group ( p < 0.05). Implant treatment was considered a more time-consuming and more painful procedure than root canal treatment ( p < 0.05). No significant relation was found between the level of anxiety with HR and SpO2., Conclusions: No significant relation was found between the level of dental anxiety with HR and SpO2. Single-implant treatment was pre-considered to be a more time-consuming and more painful procedure when compared with a RCT. HR was higher at the initial stages and decreased as both procedures finished. Key words: Dental anxiety, endodontics, dental implants, oximetry, heart rate., Competing Interests: Conflicts of interest None declared., (Copyright: © 2022 Medicina Oral S.L.)

Background: The objective of the study was to evaluate and compare how apical enlargement with K3 and K3XF nickel-titanium (NiTi) rotary instruments reduces the root thickness in the danger zone and affects canal transportation and centering ability in mandibular molar mesial canals in a manikin extracted tooth model., Material and Methods: Seventy-two mesial root canals of first mandibular molars were instrumented. Initial and post-instrumentation Cone Beam Computed Tomography scans were performed after root canal preparation up to size 25, 30, 35 and 40 files. Canal transportation, canal centering and remaining root dentin thickness toward the danger zone were calculated in sections 1, 2 and 3 mm under the furcation level. Data were analyzed using non-parametric Kruskal-Wallis analysis of variance at a significance level of P < 0.05., Results: K3 instruments removed more dentin toward the danger zone compared with K3XF instruments ( P < .05) and significant differences in dentin thickness were found when canal enlargement was performed to a #35-40 with both systems ( P < 0.05). No significant differences in canal transportation and centering ability were found between systems, except when canal enlargement was performed to a #40 ( P = 0,0136). No differences were observed when comparing the number of uses in both systems ( P > 0.05)., Conclusions: Under the conditions of this study K3 removed a significant amount of dentin at the furcation level compared with the R-Phase K3XF rotary system in curved root canals. Enlargement to a 35-40/04 file removed significantly more dentin with both systems. Key words: K3, K3XF, R-phase, center ability, canal transportation, dentin thickness, increased apical enlargement, danger zone, dentin thickness., Competing Interests: The authors deny any conflicts of interest.