Application of nondestructive testing in cyclic fatigue evaluation of endodontic Ni-Ti rotary instruments

Dent Mater J. 2006 Jun;25(2):247-52. doi: 10.4012/dmj.25.247.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the application of nondestructive testing in cyclic fatigue evaluation of endodontic ProFile nickel-titanium (NiTi) rotary instruments. As-received ProFile instruments were made to rotate freely in sloped metal blocks by a contra-angle handpiece mounted on a testing machine. Rotation was interrupted periodically, and the instrument removed and engaged onto a device to monitor its stiffness by using two strain gauges in four different directions. This monitoring method has the potential to be developed into a convenient, nondestructive turnkey system that allows in situ assessment of the integrity of NiTi instruments in the clinic. Upon fracture, which was indicated by a change in instrument stiffness, the fractured surface would be examined under a scanning electron microscope. Microscopic evaluation indicated a small area of fatigue fracture with a large area of final ductile fracture, whereby the latter was the major cyclic failure mode. Based on the results of this study, we concluded that a potential nondestructive integrity assessment method for NiTi rotary instruments was developed.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Dental Alloys*
  • Dental Stress Analysis / instrumentation
  • Dental Stress Analysis / methods*
  • Equipment Failure Analysis / methods
  • Nickel*
  • Root Canal Preparation / instrumentation*
  • Rotation
  • Stress, Mechanical
  • Titanium*
  • Transducers

Substances

  • Dental Alloys
  • titanium nickelide
  • Nickel
  • Titanium