Abstract: Abstract：Objective To evaluate the shaping ability of ProTaper Universal (PU), ProTaper Next (PN) and M3 in preparation of curved root canals by CBCT (cone-beam computed tomography). Methods Sixty extracted maxillary first premolars were divided into two groups according to the canal curvature:10°-25° group and 26°-75°group. Then, each group was divided into PU group, PN group and M3 group and prepared with three instruments respectively. Canals were scanned by CBCT scanner before and after preparation. The efficacy of canal preparation was analyzed. The width of dentine removed was measured at three points (2 mm, 5 mm and 8 mm to root tip). The apical transportation indexes and the centring ratio values were recorded. Results PN group and M3 group needed less time in preparation and showed more efficiency than those of PU group in 26°-75° groups. One of root canals in PU group appeared deformation, neither PN group nor M3 group appeared deformation after 5 root canal preparations in average. None instrument was broken in three groups. PU group removed more materials at internal walls than PN group and M3 group at internal walls of root canals in 5 mm from the apex.There was no difference in the offset of the external walls of root canals. Compared with the offset of the internal and external walls of root canals in 2 mm from the apex, the apical transportations prepared by the PN group were less than those of M3 group and PU group in 26°-75° groups. Compared with the offset of the internal and external walls of root canals in 5 mm from the apex, the apical transportations prepared by the PN group and M3 group were less than those of PU group, and theircentring ratio values were greater than those of PU group in 26°-75°groups. Conclusion ProTaper Next and M3 tested in this study are effective and time-saving in shaping curved root canals. The results indicate that both ProTaper Next and M3 are comparable to optimally enlarge root canal.

Key words: root canal preparation, cone-beam computed tomography, ProTaper Next, M3, ProTaper Universal, CBCT, maxillary first premolars