Efficacy of Various Heat-treated Retreatment File Systems on Dentin Removal and Crack Analysis: An in vitro Study

Objective: To analyze the remaining dentin thickness and crack formation after retreatment, comparing three file systems. Material and Methods: Using a standard root length of 18 mm, forty-five single-rooted teeth were decoronated and obturated after being randomly divided into three groups. Solite RS3, Solite RS3 Black, and Solite RE Black retreatment file systems were employed to remove the gutta-percha following a nano-CT scan performed before preparation. A post-operative nano-CT scan was performed to determine the amount of dentin thickness and crack that remained, and both scans were superimposed. One-way ANOVA and subsequent post-hoc tests were employed to ascertain statistical significance for both intra-group and inter-group variations. Results: Solite RE Black removed lesser dentin compared to the other two retreatment file systems (p0.05). Conclusion: Solite RE Black retreatment file system proved to have more dentin conservation and less crack propagation during retreatment. Excessive tooth structure loss can compromise the long-term success of endodontically treated teeth, increasing the risk of cracks and potential vertical root fractures.