Chemical-surgical preparation (C.S.P.) is responsible for shaping and cleaning the root canal, being these the main requirements for a correct filling procedure. Therefore, this study attempted to evaluate the change of curvature angle of simulated root canals after chemical-surgical preparation. These root canals were made in blocks of epoxy resin with curvatures of 35 degrees, and instrumented according to the serial technique of Paiva and Antoniazzi, using type-K files, Flexofile files (pre-curved and straight) and Nitiflex files. The results showed that the smallest alteration in curvature was caused by the pre-curved Flexofile files, followed by Nitiflex files and pre-curved type-K files. The root canals instrumented with straight type-K and Flexofile files showed the largest deformation in curvature. The pre-curvature of the files affects the deformation of the root canals, presenting statistically significant differences between the results obtained with straight and pre-curved Flexofile and type-K files.
Dental instruments; Endodontics; Dental pulp cavity
