Abstract: A portable holder for safely supporting a plurality of sharp dental instruments, and which comprises a body member which includes a base plate having a plurality of openings therein for supportingly receiving the instruments. A pressure plate is slideably mounted to the body member immediately below the base plate, and the pressure plate includes a plurality of openings which are aligned with the openings of the base plate and are adapted to receive the shanks of the instruments which are supported in the openings of the base plate. The pressure plate is mounted for slidable movement between a loading position wherein the openings of the base plate and the pressure plate are aligned, and an instrument retaining position wherein the openings are offset so that the instruments are engaged and lock in the openings.

Abstract: An endodontic instrument which comprises an elongate shank which has a tapered working length adjacent the pilot end, and at least two continuous helical flutes formed along the tapered working length. The flutes are non-uniformly separated in the axial direction, and they define a relatively broad helical land and at least one relatively narrow helical surface. In one embodiment, the helical surface is a relatively narrow helical land and in another embodiment, the helical surface is a sharp helical edge.

Abstract: A method of fabricating an endodontic instrument by a machining operation is disclosed, and wherein a wire-like rod composed of a titanium alloy is advanced past a rotating grinding wheel at a relatively slow feed rate, with a sufficient depth of cut to remove all of the material on a given surface without over grinding a previously ground surface, and with the grinding wheel rotating at a relatively slow surface speed. The disclosed method is able to efficiently produce endodontic instruments having a high degree of flexibility, high resistance to torsional breakage, and with sharp cutting edges along the working length.

Abstract: A kit of endodontic instruments which are adapted for use in performing root canal therapy, and wherein the instruments in the kit have increasing diameters and differing tapers. The instruments are designed to be used sequentially in root canal therapy, and the difference of the tapers serves to prevent the whole working length of the instruments from being engaged with the wall of the tapered canal being formed, to thereby reduce the frictional loading of the instruments and the risk of breakage.

Abstract: A method of fabricating an endodontic instrument by a machining operation is disclosed, and wherein a wire-like rod composed of a titanium alloy is advanced past a rotating grinding wheel at a relatively slow feed rate, with a sufficient depth of cut to remove all of the material on a given surface without over grinding a previously ground surface, and with the grinding wheel rotating at a relatively slow surface speed. The disclosed method is able to efficiently produce endodontic instruments having a high degree of flexibility, high resistance to torsional breakage, and with sharp cutting edges along the working length.

Abstract: A dental hand instrument, such as an explorer, which comprises an elongate rigid handle, and an elongate highly flexible blade attached to one or both ends of the handle. The blade is curved and/or bent along its length and is composed of nickel-titanium alloy, which provides a high degree of flexibility and wear resistance. The high degree of flexibility has been found to significantly enhance the tactile feedback to the hand of the dentist, so that the dentist is able to recognize and distinguish surface cracks, areas of decay, and the like as the point is moved across the exterior surface of a tooth.

Abstract: A kit of endodontic instruments for use in root canal therapy wherein each instrument comprises an elongate blade having a proximate end and an opposite distal end, and with the blades of the instruments in the kit respectively having progressively increasing tapers. The kit is employed to fill an extirpated root canal with gutta percha, and instruments of progressively increasing taper are used in sequence during the obturation procedure so as to control the compaction of the gutta percha points in the canal.

Abstract: A method of fabricating an endodontic instrument by a machining operation is disclosed, and wherein a wire-like rod composed of a titanium alloy is advanced past a rotating grinding wheel at a relatively slow feed rate, with a sufficient depth of cut to remove all of the material on a given surface without over grinding a previously ground surface, and with the grinding wheel rotating at a relatively slow surface speed. The disclosed method is able to efficiently produce endodontic instruments having a high degree of flexibility, high resistance to torsional breakage, and with sharp cutting edges along the working length.

Abstract: A method of fabricating an endodontic instrument by a machining operation is disclosed, and wherein a wire-like rod composed of a titanium alloy is advanced past a rotating grinding wheel at a relatively slow feed rate, with a sufficient depth of cut to remove all of the material on a given surface without over grinding a previously ground surface, and with the grinding wheel rotating at a relatively slow surface speed. The disclosed method is able to efficiently produce endodontic instruments having a high degree of flexibility, high resistance to torsional breakage, and with sharp cutting edges along the working length.