A comparative study on the effectiveness of three modern instrument retrieval methods

Instrument fracture during endodontic treatment is a serious complication that prevents adequate cleaning and shaping of the root canal system and may negatively affect the prognosis. The aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness of three different systems Terauchi File Retrieval Kit (TFRK), XP-endo Shaper (ultrasonically assisted), and the Meitrac system in terms of success rate, procedure time, and dentin loss. A total of 60 extracted human premolar teeth were used, divided into three experimental groups of 20 samples each. All procedures were performed under a dental operating microscope. In the TFRK group, ED87–89 ultrasonic tips were used; in the XP-endo Shaper group, the T6 tip of Talal's Endo Ultrasonic Kit was applied; and in the Meitrac group, trephine burs and an extractor system were utilized. Fractured instruments were created 5 mm short of the apex. Procedure times were recorded with a stopwatch, and complete removal of the fractured fragment was considered the success criterion. Dentin loss was calculated by comparing pre- and post-procedural weights measured with a high-precision balance. According to the results, success rates were 85% in the XP-endo Shaper and TFRK groups, and 80% in the Meitrac group. The mean procedure times were recorded as 16.38 min for XP-endo Shaper, 18 min for TFRK, and 26.21 min for Meitrac. Regarding dentin loss, the lowest value was found in the TFRK group with a median of 0.0094 g (CI: 0.0053–0.0189), followed by the XP-endo Shaper group with a median of 0.0225 g (CI: 0.0070–0.0401), while the highest dentin loss was observed in the Meitrac group with a median of 0.0255 g (CI: 0.0104–0.0491). In conclusion, XP-endo Shaper stood out with its shorter procedure time, TFRK demonstrated superior dentin preservation, and Meitrac provided broader access. These findings indicate that the selection of the most appropriate technique in clinical practice should be based on the localization of the fractured instrument, root canal morphology, and operator experience. KEYWORDS: Instrument retrieval, TFRK, XP-endo Shaper, Meitrac, Endodontics