The introduction of nickel–titanium rotary instruments revolutionized shaping procedures as they were able to produce a well-tapered preparation while reducing operator fatigue. The major drawback of rotary instruments was the high risk of fracture due to bending and torsional stress. Thus, the creation of a glide path has been advocated and recommended by most rotary instrument manufacturers. The aim of the present review is to summarize existing knowledge on glide path preparation and identify areas where further research is needed. The primary goal is to provide a comprehensive overview of the techniques and instruments used in glide path preparation, highlighting their advantages and limitations. The secondary goal is to explore the effect of glide path creation on the overall success of endodontic treatment, particularly in terms of reducing procedural errors and improving treatment outcomes. An online search on PubMed, ScienceDirect, UCLA, and Scopus databases was conducted, and 116 articles were identified. Eligible articles were divided into nine categories based on what they researched and compared. The categories included centering ability and/or root canal transportation, cyclic fatigue resistance, glide path and shaping time, tortional stress resistance, apical extrusion of debris and/or bacteria, defects in dentine walls, file separation, postoperative pain assessment, and scouting ability and performance. Establishing a glide path reduces root canal transportation, especially with rotary methods. Reciprocating and heat-treated files offer higher fatigue resistance and shorter preparation time. Instruments with shorter pitch lengths have greater torsional strength. Preparation and coronal preflaring reduce apical debris and bacteria. Glide paths do not affect dentine microcracks, file separation, or defects but reduce immediate postoperative pain and improve cutting ability. Randomized trials are needed to assess their impact on treatment outcomes.

Background: The prevalence of dental caries presents a global public challenge, particularly in children. Traditional caries risk assessment tools like Cariogram are effective but often complex and resource intensive. The aim of the present study was to introduce, for the first time, a newly designed caries risk assessment (CRA) tool named Index of Caries Risk (ICR) and to evaluate its efficacy for pediatric patients. Methods: This observational study was conducted at the University Hospital of Siena (Italy), involving 55 children aged 6 to 12 years. Participants were assessed using both the newly developed ICR and the well-known Cariogram tool. The data were collected by two calibrated operators. The ICR was compared with the Cariogram tool, and a descriptive analysis and a Pearson correlation coefficient were performed. Results: Results indicated a strong positive correlation (R = 0.88, p < 0.01) between the two methods, with ICR simplifying the assessment process while maintaining efficacy. Conclusions: This study highlights the ICR’s potential to provide a practical, cost-effective alternative for routine caries risk assessment in pediatric dentistry. Despite its limitations, this research marks a preliminary investigation of a promising new CRA tool. Further research should focus on validating the ICR in the larger and more diverse pediatric population, as well as exploring its long-term effectiveness and its application in different clinical settings.

Objectives: The aim of this study is to investigate how Adaptive Torque Control motion influences the shaping efficiency of Neolix EDMax (Neolix SAS, Évron, France) and its ability to reach working length with or without a pre-existing glide path. Methods: A total of 90 endo training blocks with an S-shape curvature were divided into three groups based on the kinematics and preparation phase: the control group, where the Neolix EDMax (Neolix SAS, Évron, France) was used for shaping after a glide path was established; the no glide path group, where the Neolix EDMax (Neolix SAS, Évron, France) was used for shaping without a glide path; and the Adaptive Torque Control group, where the Neolix EDMax (Neolix SAS, Évron, France) was used for shaping without a glide path but in an Adaptive Torque Control motion. The time for shaping, the instrument passes, and the ability to reach working length were recorded and analyzed using a one-way Anova and Tukey’s HSD post hoc test. Results: Establishing a glide path helped the shaping file to reach working length faster and in fewer passes when compared with the no glide path group, but the Adaptive Torque Control group was able to perform even better than the control group despite not having a pre-established glide path. Conclusions: The Adaptive Torque Control motion on continuous rotation instruments does impact their performance. Combining the efficiency of continuous rotation and the safety of reciprocation, this type of motion had a significant effect on the ability to shape the simulated root canal even in the presence of a double curvature and without a pre-established glide path.