EVALUATION OF SIZE VARIATION BETWEEN ENDODONTIC FINGER SPREADERS AND ACCESSORY GUTTA-PERCHA CONES

The diameter of nine sizes of three brands of endodontic spreaders was measured at D1 and D16 and compared with corresponding sizes of six brands of accessory gutta-percha cones. Two evaluators independently measured 20 randomly selected samples of each size of finger spreader and accessory gutta-percha cone. A standardized method of measurement was used for all samples and the interrater reliability was found to be extremely high using this methodology. Results indicated that very few of the diameters corresponded when like sizes of finger spreaders and accessory gutta-percha cones were compared. We concluded that there is a need for standardization by the manufacturer of finger spreaders so that accessory gutta-percha cones will fit into the space created by corresponding sized finger spreaders.