The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of glide path preparation with PathFile and ProGlider nickel-titanium (NiTi) files on the cyclic fatigue resistance of WaveOne NiTi files.

Forty-four WaveOne Primary files were used and divided into four groups (n = 11). In the first group (0 WaveOne), the WaveOne Primary files served as a control group and were not used on acrylic blocks. In the 1 WaveOne Group, acrylic blocks were prepared using only WaveOne Primary files, and in the PF+WaveOne group and PG+WaveOne groups, acrylic blocks were first prepared with PathFile or ProGlider NiTi files, respectively, followed by the use of WaveOne Primary files. All the WaveOne Primary files were then subjected to cyclic fatigue testing. The number of cycles to failure was calculated and the data were statistically analyzed using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and the Tukey honest significant difference multiple-comparison test at a 5% significance level.

The highest number of cycles to failure was found in the control group, and the lowest numbers were found in the 1 WaveOne group and the PF+WaveOne group. Significant differences were found among the 1 WaveOne, PF+WaveOne, and control groups (p < 0.05). No statistically significant differences were found between the PG+WaveOne group and the other three groups (p > 0.05).

Glide path preparation with NiTi rotary files did not affect the cyclic fatigue resistance of WaveOne Primary files used on acrylic blocks.

To determine the actual revolutions per minute (rpm) values and compare the cyclic fatigue life of Reciproc (RPC, VDW GmbH), WaveOne (WO, Dentsply Maillefer), and TF Adaptive (TFA, Axis/SybronEndo) nickel-titanium (NiTi) file systems using high-speed camera.

Twenty RPC R25 (25/0.08), 20 WO Primary (25/0.08), and 20 TFA ML 1 (25/0.08) files were employed in the present study. The cyclic fatigue tests were performed using a dynamic cyclic fatigue testing device, which has an artificial stainless steel canal with a 60° angle of curvature and a 5-mm radius of curvature. The files were divided into 3 groups (group 1, RPC R25 [RPC]; group 2, WO Primary [WO]; group 3, TF Adaptive ML 1 [TFA]). All the instruments were rotated until fracture during the cyclic fatigue test and slow-motion videos were captured using high-speed camera. The number of cycles to failure (NCF) was calculated. The data were analyzed statistically using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA, p < 0.05).

The slow-motion videos were indicated that rpm values of the RPC, WO, and TFA groups were 180, 210, and 425, respectively. RPC (3,464.45 ± 487.58) and WO (3,257.63 ± 556.39) groups had significantly longer cyclic fatigue life compared with TFA (1,634.46 ± 300.03) group (p < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the mean length of the fractured fragments.

Within the limitation of the present study, RPC and WO NiTi files showed significantly longer cyclic fatigue life than TFA NiTi file.