Why do the dentist and researcher use endodontic training blocks instead of extracted teeth for the comparative study of different endodontic files? Is there any similarity in endo training blocks and extracted teeth?
I think there are two possible reasons for this:
- endodontic training blocks are all the same, i.e. it is a very standardized evaluation using such blocks.
- In many European countries (I have only experience within Europe) it is very difficult to obtain a sufficiently high number of suitable extracted teeth (less and less teeth are extracted nowadays and, in addition, the formalities, such as approval by the ethics committees, are becoming more and more complicated).
The way I see it, training blocks are the easiest (not necessarily the best) way to compare filing techniques. Even if you can't replace natural teeth with them.
I think there are two possible reasons for this:
- endodontic training blocks are all the same, i.e. it is a very standardized evaluation using such blocks.
- In many European countries (I have only experience within Europe) it is very difficult to obtain a sufficiently high number of suitable extracted teeth (less and less teeth are extracted nowadays and, in addition, the formalities, such as approval by the ethics committees, are becoming more and more complicated).
The way I see it, training blocks are the easiest (not necessarily the best) way to compare filing techniques. Even if you can't replace natural teeth with them.
Here in South America is the same, it is very difficult to get structurally intact teeth. I think that's the main reason.
Diego Halabí and Karl-Heinz Kunzelmann if we consider the material properties of the endodontic block and the natural teeth then are there some similarity between them?
Endodontic training blocks are transparent in order for you to see the results of the work done by the file
As mentioned before, Endo training blocks are standardized in terms of canal diameter, angle of curvature and radius. In comparison to natural dentin, most of the available resin blocks are softer. In other words, the hardness of resin used in most blocks is much less than the natural dentin.
Endoblock are cheap (vs. extracted teeth), transparent, and have the same canal dimensions if you pick some having the same ref code. They are also easier to get ready for tests (extracted teeth need to be prepared, i.e. soft tissue removed).
Re. material properties - Blocks are made of plastic and extracted teeth of enamel, dentin, etc. Not the same material obviously, but the blocks are made to (among others) test endo files. So you can still feel how the endo file behave in an Endoblock.
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