Evaluation of Titanium-Niobium Alloy as a Possible Material to Manufacture Endodontic Files

Abstract

In order to avoid fractures of endodontic instruments within the root canal, rotary endodontic files have been manufactured in nickel titanium alloy, either conventional or with different thermal treatments. However, fatigue fractures continue to occur, preventing root canal cleaning and shaping. In our research we explored the possibility that titanium niobium alloy may be useful in the manufacture of endodontic rotary files due to its resistance to fatigue fracture. Simulations of the fatigue failure were made by means of finite elements in wires with the properties of the proposed alloys and they were validated experimentally finding similar results. Likewise, simulations of fatigue failure were made of models of the F2 file of Protaper series® with the same mechanical properties tested on the wires but only the rotary file composed of nickel titanium alloy was experimentally validated. It was found that the niobium titanium alloy virtual file was more resistant to fatigue failure than the nickel titanium alloy file, therefore with the limitations of the present study, it can be concluded that titanium-niobium could be an alternative material for the manufacture of endodontic files.