Rotary Endodontic Instruments

History
Features
Systems ….

Part 1

Done by:
Dr. Zaid Waleed
Dr. Mohammed Hazem
INTRODUCTION
The technical demands and level of precision
required for successful performance of endodontic
procedures have traditionally been achieved by
careful manipulation of hand instruments within the
root canal space and by strict adherence to the
biologic and surgical principles, essential for
disinfection and healing. To improve the speed and
efficiency of the treatment, recently there has been
a resurgence of mechanized or automated system
for both preparation and sealing of root canal
system.
COMPOSITION OF ROTARY
ENDODONTIC INSTRUMENTS
Historically, carbon steel and stainless steel
instruments were used for root canal
instrumentation. In 1988, Walia and colleagues
introduced nickel-titanium (NiTi) files to
endodontic. Since then, many NiTi file systems
have been developed. Rotary NiTi instruments
have become popular as they can clean and
shape root canals with fewer procedural errors
and more predictability than stainless steel hand
files.
Why Nickel-Titanium
Reversible re-arrangement of the nickel and titanium
atoms at the molecular level. A new endodontic file is
composed of nickel and titanium atoms arranged in a
body-centered cubic lattice structure NiTi alloys are
unique in that applied stress (i.e. bending) causes a called
the austenite phase. When this file is placed in a curved
canal, the atoms rearrange into a closely-packed
hexagonal array and the alloy is transformed into the
more flexible martensitic crystal structure. This molecular
transition enables these files to bend easily and around
severe curves without permanent deformation.
COMPARATIVE STUDY OF METALS
Nickel titanium
Stainless steel

Excellentflexibility Less flexible

Conforms to canal Straightens and
curvature transports canal

Plastic deformation Permanent

deformation
Advances in Nickel-Titanium
Metallurgy
1. M-wire NiTi - Developed by Dentsply Tulsa Dental
Specialties
 Advantage: This material has greater flexibility and an
increased resistance to cyclic fatigue when compared
to traditional NiTi alloys.
2) R-phase NiTi – Developed by (SybronEndo)
 Advantage: Files have reduced stiffness and
more fracture resistance compared to
standard NiTi files.
3) Controlled-Memory (CM) NiTi
 Advantage: Files have superior cyclic
fatigue resistance and increased
torque strength over traditional NiTi
files.
Components of a File
 1) Tip.
 2) Taper.
 3) Flute.
 4) Land.
 5) Helix angle.
 6) Rake angle.
 7) Pitch.
 8) Cutting edge.
Rotation and reciprocation
 Compared to reciprocation, continuous
rotation utilizing well designed active NiTi
files requires less inward pressure and
improves hauling capacity auguring debris
out of the canal.
 On the other hand, a mechanical
reciprocating movement has merit because
it mimics manual movement and reduce the
various risks associated with continuously
rotating a file in canal curvature.
 Reciprocation of NiTi instruments
have the following advantages:

1. Binding of the instruments into the

canal dentine walls is less frequent,
reducing torsional stress.
2. The reduction of the number of
cycles within the root canal during
preparation result in less flexural
stress on the instrument.
3. There is decreased risk of
instrument fructure.
reciprocation Continuous rotation
WHAT IS R.P.M.?
 The rotational speed is expressed
in revolution per minute,
ABBREVIATED AS r.p.m.
RELATION BETWEEN TORQUE AND
ANGULAR ACCELARATION
• ROTATION OF A RIGID BODY?
 A rigid body means a body in which the distance

between each pair of particles remain invariant.

• WHAT IS TORQUE?
 It is the sum of moments

of the force acting on

the particles.
 Torque act in a
rotational manner.
Importance of Speed
Speed refers not only to revolutions per minute but
also to the surface feet per unit that the tool has with
the work to be cut.
In endodontics, speed varies from 150-40,000 rpm
Greater the speed, more the cutting efficiency.
But at higher speed, there are more disadvantages

such as :
1) loss of tactile sensation

2) breakage of instruments preceded by flute

distortion
3) change in anatomical curvature of canal

4) loss of control.
Importance of Torque
Torque is the ability of the handpiece to
 withstand lateral pressure on the revolving

tool without decreasing its speed or

reducing its cutting efficiency.
 Torque is dependent upon the type of
bearing used and the amount.
 of energy supplied to the handpiece.
 Torqueis another parameter that might influence the incidence
of instrument locking, deformation, and separation.
Theoretically, an instrument used with a high torque is very
active and the incidence of instrument locking and
consequently deformation and separation would tend to
increase, whereas a low torque would reduce the cutting
efficiency of the instrument, and instrument progression in the
canal would be difficult.

 Conventionalendodontic motors to recent motors use a wide

range of speed of 150 rpm - 40,00Orpm, which are either
controlled by electrical or air-driven instructions handpieces.
REVERSE - ROTATION
 During root canal preparation all the instruments
are subjected to different levelsof torque. If the
level of the torque is equal or greater than the
torque at deformation or at separation, the
instrument will either deform or separate.
 With low torque control motors, the motor will
stop rotating and can even reverse the direction
of rotation when the instrument is subjected to
torque levels equal to the torque values set on
the motor.
LATEST DEVELOPMENT
The latest development with regard to
torque control is the incorporation of gear
systems within the handpiece that regulates
torque depending on the size of the rotary
instrument. (Endoflash- Kavo, Anthogy Ni-Ti
control- Dentsply). This obviates the need for
torque control motors.
 Design features of rotary
endodontic instruments

By:
Dr. Mohammed Hazem
Rotator dentist
 Endodontic instruments were originally
made from carbon steel. Later on Stainless
steel employed and since 1988 endodontic
instruments fabricated from NiTi, but
because of extreme flexibility of NiTi, they
are not designed for initial negotiation of
the root canal.
When using the S.S files, occurrence of
procedural errors cannot be avoided
especially in case of curved canals
Carbon steel files
Stainless steel files
 The super elasticity and shape
memory of NiTi alloy allows these
instruments to flex more than the S.S
instruments before exceeding their
elastic limit, thereby allowing canal
preparation with minimal procedural
errors.
 Other advantages associated with
NiTi include its biocompatibility and
high resistance to corrosion.
NiTi Files
 Originally, NiTi endodontic instruments
were designed for manual
instrumentation.
 Then, the use of NiTi instruments coupled
to electric motors has allowed the
combination of speed and quality during
endodontic treatments, thus reducing
working time and consequently
increasing productivity and comfort for
both the operator and the patient.
Manual Rotary
NiTi files NiTi files
Design features of NiTi rotary
endodontic instruments
 Design features of any root canal instrument
are determined primarily by the aim and the
method of its use.
 There are a vast number of different root canal
instruments and systems. It is not always easy
for dental practitioners to be familiar with the
whole variety of options. Nevertheless,
understanding the basic features of root canal
instruments and their operation principles can
help the clinician use these instruments more
effectively, and significantly reduce the
probability of mistakes.
Parts of rotary NiTi file
1- Working Section
Tip:
Tip is the element of the working part that
performs the guiding function. The cutting
part is the prime element of the working
section, which has cutting blades that
perform the enlargement of the root canal.
The tip might have a sharp or
rounded configuration,
depending on whether
the file is active or passive.
 An active tip has cutting edges on its
surface, which are made for the removal
of dentine or obturation material from
the root canal.
 One of the prominent disadvantages of
NiTi is the lack of tactile feedback.
Therefore instruments with an active tip
require special care when operated
because of significant risk of perforation
when deviation from canal axis occur.
 A passive tip does not have cutting
edges and does not possess cutting
properties. A passive tip reduces the risk
of instrument deviation from the canal
axis, and as a consequence the risk of
transportation or ledge
formation. The majority
Of NiTi root canal
instruments have passive
tips.
Taper:

Taper is described as the amount of

file diameter increase per millimeter
along the working surface from the tip
toward the file handle.
New rotary files incorporate a wide
variation of constant or variable tapers
at different lengths of working surface.
Dn = Do + % . n
 Most instrument tapers are fixed ranging
from 0.02mm to 0.12mm taper.
 Some of the newer instruments have a
variable taper built into the instrument
starting at a specific taper and then
altering the tapers as it travels the shank
so as to improve efficiency in its cutting.
 It has been reported that instruments with
progressive taper can shape canals more
quickly than constant taper instruments.
Flutes:

The fluting is a specific surface with a

certain configuration, which is created on
the working part to impart the cutting
ability to the instrument.
In general, the fluting is formed by
grinding out a groove of a specific profile
onto the cylindrical or conical NiTi blank
with appropriate diameter.
As a result of the grinding process,
adjoining flutes form the cutting blade.
 The fluting is characterised by the
following parameters:

1. Helical angle.
2. Pitch.
3. Depth of fluting (Rake angle).
4. Configuration of fluting.
Helical angle:

It is the angle formed between the

blade and the long axes of the
instrument. Variable helical angles
(HA) are an important aid to moving
debris up and out of the canal.
 Additionally, a constant HA file is
more prone to debris accumulation.
This debris accumulation can lead to
the need for increased torque, which
can lead to potential separation.
Pitch:

Pitch is the distance between a point

on the leading edge and the
corresponding point on the adjacent
leading edge. It is very important
because a constant pitch will work
much like a wood screw and pull you
into the tooth.
 A variable pitch will significantly
decrease the tendency of the file to
get sucked down into the tooth. In
addition, a smaller pitch distance
would give more resistance to the file
and less cutting efficiency.
Rake angle:

The rake angle (RA) is the angle

formed by the leading edge and the
surface to be cut. The RA can be
negative, neutral or positive. If the
angle formed by the leading edge and
the surface to be cut is acute, the RA is
said to be negative.
Rake angle
 Since dentine is a dense and resilient
material, instruments having a negative RA
are less efficient and require more energy to
cut dentine than files with a positive RA.
Most endodontic instruments have a
slightly negative or substantially neutral RA.
The result is a scraping rather than cutting
action. The ideal RA is slightly positive
because an overly positive RA will result in
too actively cutting of dentine and probably
threading.
Cutting edge:

The surface with the greatest

diameter that follows the groove
(where the flute and land intersect).
The cutting edge forms and deflects
chips from the wall of the canal and
snags soft tissue. Its effectiveness
depends on its angle of incidence and
sharpness.
Core:

The core is the cylindrical center

part of the file having its
circumference outlined and bordered
by the depth of the flutes.
The core taper and total external
taper can be different and the relative
diameter of the core, compared to the
file’s total diameter, may vary along its
working portion in order to change the
flexibility and resistance to torsion.
Radial land:

It's a flat area that is located directly

behind the cutting edge of the
instrument.
The land touches the canal walls at the
periphery of the file and:
• reduces the tendency of the file to
screw into the canal.
• reduces transportation of the canal.
• reduces the progression of
microcraks on its circumference.
• supports the cutting edge.
• and limits the depth of cut.
 Radial lands on rotary files will
increase lateral resistance. Increased
resistance will results in increased
torque requirements which is not a
good thing for rotary files as this will
elevates the danger of instrument
fracture.
A) Flat radial land
B) Sharp radial land
 So the lack of this area allows the
instrument to be sharper and
consequently more efficient, in
addition this will results in a decreased
thickness of metal. The result of less
metal is a dramatic increase in
flexibility. Theoretically, the radial land
improves irrigation flow apically and
the movement of debris coronally.
Cross section of instrument:

Different cross-sectional geometries

of rotary instruments may increase the
cutting efficiency, therefore reducing
contact areas and torsional loads.
Generally they are either triangles or
quadangles in cross section.
Triangle cross section
Quadangle cross section
2- Attachment section

It is the part of the file that

connects to the working part from one
end and has a groove to connect to the
rotary motor on the other end.
Torque
Torque is a measure of the force that
can cause an object to rotate about an
axis, so it is the rotational equivalent
of linear force.

Tq = r . F
 Torque for rotary instruments in
endodontics varies depending on the
system used.
When a high torque motor is used, the
instrument will be very active and the
incidence of instrument locking,
deformation and separation would
tend to increase.
Torsional fatigue
Fracturing of rotary nickel-titanium
(NiTi) instruments occurs due torsion
or flexural fatigue. Torsional fracture
occurs when an instrument tip or
another part of the instrument is
locked in the canal while the shank
continues to rotate. When the elastic
limit of the metal is exceeded by the
torque exerted by the handpiece,
fracture of the tip becomes inevitable.
Instrument fatigue
 Cyclic fatigue failure is reported to
occur unexpectedly without any sign of
previous permanent deformation. This
occurs because of the alternating
tension/compression cycles that
instruments are subjected to when
flexed in the region of maximum
curvature of the canal.
Several strategies have been
incorporated in the manufacturing
process to reduce the incidence of
separation of NiTi instruments:

1- advanced surface treatment or

electropolishing that finishes the
surface and prevents crack
propagation.
 SEM images of non-electropolished
(A) and electropolished (B) instrument
2- varying the taper within one file and
modifying the cross-section, thus
reducing the contact area of the
instrument with the canal walls.

3- heat treatment or thermal

processing that optimizes the
microstructure of NiTi alloys.
Using NiTi instruments in reciprocating
motion can enhance the cyclic fatigue
resistance.
Reciproc All (VDW, Munich, Germany)
and WaveOne All (Dentsply Maillefer,
Ballaigues, Switzerland) are two
reciprocating systems that are
currently available.
VDW Silver Dentsply X - Smart
Conclusion
 The introduction of rotary systems
enhanced the root canal preparation
procedure while decreasing incidence
of instrument fructure.
 Rotary systems need less chair-side
time and therefore are faster and easer
for the clinicians.
 The use of NiTi files have a superior
results over conventional carbon steel
and stainless steel files.
 Flexibility of NiTi files adapts to the
canal shape and thus ease canal
preparation especially in curved
canals.
 Files with variant tapers have better
effect in cleansing of the canal as
well as better resistance to torsional
separation.
 Application of reciprocation instead of
just rotation decrease the chance of
Thank you