Apical Debris Extrusion by Adaptive Root Canal Instrumentation in Oval Canals: Full-Sequence SAF System vs. the XP-Endo Shaper Plus Sequence

Apical extrusion of debris (AED) by the full sequence of the self-adjusting file (SAF) system was compared with that of the XP-endo shaper plus sequence. Sixty permanent mandibular incisors were randomly assigned to two groups (n = 30) for root canal instrumentation: Group A: Stage 1—pre-SAF OS, pre-SAF 1 and pre-SAF 2 files, followed by Stage 2—1.5 mm SAF; and Group B: Stage 1— hand K-file 15/0.02, followed by Stage 2—XP-endo shaper and Stage 3—XP-endo finisher. The AED produced during instrumentation at each stage was collected in pre-weighed Eppendorf tubes. The weights of AED by the two methods were compared using t tests with significance level set at 5%. Group A produced significantly less total AED than Group B (p < 0.001), with no significant difference in debris extrusion between the two stages (p = 0.3014). Conversely, in Group B, a significant difference was noted between Stage 1 and Stages 2 and 3 (p < 0.01), with no significant difference between Stages 2 and 3 (p = 0.488). Both sequences resulted in measurable amounts of AED. Each phase, in either procedure, made its own contribution to the extrusion of debris.