Influence of a Manual Glide Path on Survival of a Single-File Reciprocating System

Survival of Reciproc files used for instrumentation of 100 artificial curved canals before and after creation of a glide path was examined. The average lifespan of one Reciproc file without a creation of a glide path was 7.17�1.72 canals and after a glide path creation � 12.67�1.53 canals. The difference was statistically significant. Within the limitations of this study, instrumentation with files with unequal angles of reciprocal motion is a reliable and safe procedure. Preliminary creation of a glide path with C-Pilot hand files increases significantly the lifespan of Reciproc files in the course of shaping of severely curved root canals.