I.

Objectives of Shaping Root Canal

1. To remove and/or eliminate from the root canal, all its contents that may lead to the growth
of microorganisms (non-vital/necrotic pulp) or breakdown of toxic products into the
periradicular space.

2. To remove the irregularities of canal walls as well as obstructions such as calcifications, filling
materials, posts (metal/fiber), instruments etc.

3. To prepare the root canal not only for its disinfection but also to develop a shape that
permits the simplest and most effective 3D filling.

Principles of Shaping

Provide a shape that facilities cleaning and obturation

Main objective is to provide a continuously tapering preparation:

▪ preparation must flow and progressively narrow in an apical

direction

▪ starting at orifice and moving apically, every cross-sectional

diameter of preparation should decrease

▪ Position of the foramen maintained (without transportation)

▪ Foramen as small as possible

Complex Anatomy that should be considered

 Canals are wider in one dimension and not the other

 The cross-section of the canal is rarely rounded

 There are high percentage of extra canals

 Lateral & Accessory canals do exist

 All canals have a degree of curvature

SHAPING WITHOUT CLEANING (IRRIGATION)

IS INSUFFICIENT
AS MUCH AS YOU CAN
The rule is: AS MANY TIMES AS YOU CAN

Principles of Cleaning & Shaping

Mechanical Objectives Biological Objectives

• Original anatomy maintained To completely debride the pulp space of:

• Position of the foramen maintained • Pulp tissue
(without transportation) • Bacteria (microorganisms)
• Foramen as small as possible • Endotoxins
II. The files used for shaping procedure are made of alloys: nickel-titanium or stainless steel. They can
be hand or rotary.

Comparison of alloys

Shape memory effect

A shape-memory alloy (SMA, smart metal, memory metal, memory alloy,

muscle wire, smart alloy) is an alloy that "remembers" its original shape and that
when deformed returns to its pre-deformed shape.

Nitinol- Ni Ti Naval Ordance Laboratory

Conventional Nitinol- original alloy 55% nickel and 45 % titanium ratio of elements

Dr Harmeet D. Walia conducted the first reported investigation of the NiTi alloy in endodontics in
1988

Testing concluded that the NiTi hand files had two to three times the elastic flexibility and greater
resistance to torsion fractures than hand files made from stainless steel

First nickel - titanium rotary instruments have been introduced in the middle 90s
Components of Nickel Titanium Files- Design Characteristics

Tip shape

• Tip could be

cutting or non –cutting

• Cutting tip makes the work with the tool more aggressive (has an ability to penetrate the
narrow, heavily obliterated canals)

RISK OF IATROGENIC COMPLICATIONS

• Non-cutting tip (pilot tip) slides over the wall of the canal and preparation is carried out by
the distal portion of the instruments

Taper

Taper is a degree at which tool diameter increases for the tip to the holder Constant/ Variable

1. The diameter of the endodontic hand file No 35 at 4 mm from the tip is?
2. The diameter of the endodontic file No 25 and the constant taper of 6% at 5 mm from the tip
is?

Ad.1 tip diameter 35 0,35 mm

2% 0,02 mm/1 mm

0,02*4=0,08 mm, 0,35+0,08= 0,43 mm

Ad.2 tip diameter 25 0,25 mm

6% 0,06 mm/1 mm constant taper

0,06*5=0,30 mm, 0,25+0,3= 0,55 mm

III.

Guidelines when using Ni Ti Rotary Instruments

Guideline #1 You should always have SLA (straight line access)

Guideline #2 :Must create glide path

Guideline #3: Be familiar with the canal anatomy

Guideline #4: Never skip files! (use files at recommended speed and torque)

Each NiTi rotary system has a specific, optimal way of use that should be learned before use

Guideline #5 : Use frequent and copious irrigation

Guideline #6: Use minimal pressure

Take what the canal give you don’t force the instrument

Guideline #7: Insert& remove instruments while they are rotating

Guideline #8: Don’t overuse the instruments

Guideline #9: Control working length and canal patency

IV. Preparation of the root canal system with Path File and ProTaper Next rotary files.

PREFLARING & GLIDE PATH– DEFINITION

❑ Preflaring is the preliminary root canal enlargement needed to reduce the risk of taper lock
of the tip of the first rotary instrument used to shape the canal.

❑ Glide Path is obtained during preflaring and corresponds to the smooth canal preparation
that rotary instruments can follow without the risk of blockage or bending.

❑ Until now, this stage is conventionally performed with hand SST instruments, such as K-Files
008, 010 or 015.

PathFile™, a new rotary Nickel-Titanium solution for Mechanical Glide Path and Preflaring

❑ A new range available in 3 ISO sizes (013, 016 and 019) and 3 lengths (21, 25 and 31mm).

PATHFILE™ – STANDARD SEQUENCE

❑ Scout and negotiation with a standard K-File #010 until it can move smoothly along the canal

❑ With same file, working length determination in combination with an Apex locator

❑ PathFile™ #013 to working length

❑ PathFile™ #016 to working length

❑ PathFile™ #019 to working length

Canal shaping with any NiTi rotary system (ProTaper Next)

ProTaper Next

 Variable taper on a single file

 An offset mass of rotation

 The utilization of heat treatment technology, resulting in M-WIRE

 For single use only

STEP BY STEP INSTRUCTIONS FOR USE ProTaper Next Files