The purpose of this study was to evaluate a rotational stability of endodontic electronic motors by comparing the changes of rotational speed, depending on the number of usages and with/without static load. Twelve new endodontic electronic motors were used in this study. Non contact type digital tachometer was used for measuring the rotational speed of handpiece. True RMS Multimeter was used for measuring the voltages and the electric currents. All measurements were recorded every 10 seconds during 10 minutes and repeated 9 times. Five repetition was done per each electronic motor. To statistical analysis, student t-test, repeated measures and Scheffe's post-hoc tests were performed. In the same motor group, there was no significant difference in all measurements. In all groups, there was no significant difference in the amount of rotational speed changes depending on the number of usages and with/without static load. In the limitation of this study, the results showed that all kinds of endodontic electronic motors in this study had an established rotational stability. Therefore they could be safely used in root canal treatment with a reliable maintenance of rotational speed, regardless of the number of usages and with/without load.

This study was conducted to evaluate canal configuration after shaping by ProTaper™ with various rotational speed in J-shaped simulated resin canals.

Forty simulated root canals were divided into 4 groups, and instrumented using by ProTaper™ at the rotational speed of 250, 300, 350 and 400 rpm. Pre-instrumented and post-instrumented images were taken by a scanner and those were superimposed. Outer canal width, inner canal width, total canal width, and amount of transportation from original axis were measured at 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 mm from apex. Instrumentation time, instrument deformation and fracture were recorded. Data were analyzed by means of one-way ANOVA followed by Scheffe's test.

The results were as follows

Regardless of rotational speed, at the 1~2 mm from the apex, axis of canal was transported to outer side of a curvature, and at 3~6 mm from the apex, to inner side of a curvature. Amounts of transportation from original axis were not significantly different among experimental groups except at 5 and 6 mm from the apex.

In conclusion, the rotational speed of ProTaper™ files in the range of 250~400 rpm does not affect the change of canal configuration, and high rotational speed reduces the instrumentation time. However, appearance of separation and distortion of Ni-Ti rotary files can occur in high rotational speed.