Abstract: A method of manufacturing an endodontic instrument includes providing a metal alloy powder and forming an endodontic instrument by depositing and heating successive layers of the metal alloy poser according to an additive manufacturing process. Forming an endodontic instrument according to an additive manufacturing process allows for advanced features such as one or more voids in the interior region of the instrument.

Abstract: An endodontic instrument for use in a root canal procedure. The instrument is formed from a substantially hollow tube with at least one elongate slotted aperture extending along a portion of a length of the tube. One or more of the edges of the slotted aperture provide cutting surfaces for extirpating material from the walls of a root canal.

Abstract: A multi-tapered endodontic file is provided, formed from shaft of material having a shaft. The shaft includes a working portion having one or more tissue-removing edges, points and/or surfaces. The working portion includes at least a first flute and a second flute. The first flute is tapered along its length in accordance with a first predetermined taper function. The second flute is tapered along its length in accordance with a second predetermined taper function.

Abstract: A multi-tapered endodontic file is provided, formed from shaft of material having a shaft. The shaft includes a working portion having one or more tissue-removing edges, points and/or surfaces. The working portion includes at least a first flute and a second flute. The first flute is tapered along its length in accordance with a first predetermined taper function. The second flute is tapered along its length in accordance with a second predetermined taper function.

Abstract: A multi-tapered endodontic file is provided, formed from shaft of material having a shaft. The shaft includes a working portion having one or more tissue-removing edges, points and/or surfaces. The working portion includes at least a first flute and a second flute. The first flute is tapered along its length in accordance with a first predetermined taper function. The second flute is tapered along its length in accordance with a second predetermined taper function.

Abstract: A fluteless endodontic file is provided, formed from a tapered shaft of material having a prismatic shape generally defined by three or more side surfaces and three or more interposed corners. A plurality of notches are cut into one or more corners defining cutting surfaces, points and/or edges. The notched cutting surfaces are formed such that the file, when rotated and/or reciprocated within a root canal, effectively cuts/debrides hard tissue (known in the art as dentin) as well as soft tissue, thus, forming an optimal canal shape. The cutting surfaces are also preferably formed at an angle to the centerline of the instrument to provide optimal cutting efficiency and material removal. The fluteless file design exhibits increased efficacy, with less tendency to bind and break within the root canal and also significantly reduces manufacturing and capital equipment costs.

Abstract: A fluteless endodontic file is provided, formed from a tapered shaft of material having a prismatic shape generally defined by three or more side surfaces and three or more interposed corners. A plurality of notches are cut into one or more corners defining cutting surfaces, points and/or edges. The notched cutting surfaces are formed such that the file, when rotated and/or reciprocated within a root canal, effectively cuts/debrides hard tissue (known in the art as dentin) as well as soft tissue, thus, forming an optimal canal shape. The cutting surfaces are also preferably formed at an angle to the centerline of the instrument to provide optimal cutting efficiency and material removal. The fluteless file design exhibits increased efficacy, with less tendency to bind and break within the root canal and also significantly reduces manufacturing and capital equipment costs.

Abstract: A multi-tapered endodontic file is provided, formed from shaft of material having a generally twisted prismatic shape defined by three or more side surfaces and three or more interposed corners. The shaft includes a working portion having one or more tissue-removing edges, points and/or surfaces. The working portion is tapered along its length in accordance with a first predetermined taper function. The working portion is further tapered in accordance with second taper function different from the first taper function. The superimposition of the first and second taper functions results in a desired interference pattern of tissue-removing edges, points and/or surfaces. The multi-tapered endodontic file design exhibits increased efficacy, with less tendency to bind or screw into and/or break within the root canal.

Abstract: An endodontic file is provided that is fabricated from a superelastic alloy material such as an alloy of nickel, titanium and niobium. The superelastic alloy material is selected to have a relatively high loading plateau greater than about 500 MPa. Such alloy material allows the formation of precision ground flutes and cutting edges with reduced incidence of burrs, rolled metal deposits and other imperfections. Thus, the cutting edges of an endodontic file constructed in accordance with the invention are sharper and cleaner than heretofore achieved and less susceptible to wear. The resulting file is also stiffer than comparable files fabricated from conventional NiTi alloys such that improved tactile feedback and manipulation control are provided.

Abstract: An endodontic instrument for use in performing root canal procedures comprises an elongate working portion and a chisel tip portion which has removing edges that improve the effectiveness of the instrument in extirpating and enlarging the root canal.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for extirpating tissue from a radicular dental canal comprises a set of instruments having graduated lengths and diameters. In one embodiment of the invention, one instrument is of such length to extirpate the apical foramen. This full depth instrument has a first cutting length that conforms to a first taper angle between a conical apex and a first base diameter. The first cutting length is less than the length of the root canal. Above the first cutting length, the instrument may be cylindrical. The full depth instrument is followed by a second instrument having a length that is less than that of the full length instrument by the length of the first cutting length. The second instrument cutting length is also less than the length of the root canal and extends between a minor diameter at the tip of the instrument and minor diameter at the longitudinal end of the cutting length.

Abstract: The present invention disclosed herein is directed to improved endodontic dental instruments for extirpating and/or obturating a root canal. The dental instruments of the invention have at least one friction reducing element which assists in the removal of material from a tooth canal and which reduces frictional loads on the instrument during extirpating and obturating procedures.

Abstract: The present invention disclosed herein is directed to improved endodontic dental instruments for extirpating and/or obturating a root canal. The dental instruments of the invention have at least one friction reducing element which assists in the removal of material from a tooth canal and which reduces frictional loads on the instrument during extirpating and obturating procedures.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to improved endodontic dental instruments for extirpating and enlarging a root canal and methods for use thereof. The dental instruments of the invention include a helical radial land and a helical blade edge spaced from the land on its opposite sides by helical flutes.

Abstract: An endodontic instrument is provided for use in performing root canal procedures and comprises an elongate working portion and a chisel tip portion which has removing edges that improve the effectiveness of the instrument in extirpating and enlarging the root canal. The working portion has a non-uniform taper which accelerates from a proximal end of the instrument to a distal end forming a region of enhanced compliance adjacent the tip.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to improved endodontic dental instruments for extirpating and enlarging a root canal and methods for use thereof. The dental instruments of the invention include a helical radial land and a helical blade edge spaced from the land on its opposite sides by helical flutes. Dental instruments according to the invention exhibit improved and more balanced side cutting in curvilinear canals and non-circular canal areas such as fins or anastomosis canal regions.

Abstract: A method of obturating an extirpated root canal and an associated filler material utilizes two classes of gutta-percha, one class of which becomes plasticized at a predetermined temperature and the other class of which becomes plasticized at a temperature which is less than the predetermined temperature. In one embodiment of the method, the second class of gutta-percha is coated about the first class when in a plasticized condition, and in another embodiment of the method, the second class is pre-coated about the first class and the second class is heated to plasticized condition without plasticizing the first class. In either case, the first class of gutta-percha supports the plasticized second class when subsequently introduced into a root canal for filling the canal. To increase the rigidity of the first class of gutta-percha, the first class may be coated with a cured layer of methyl methacrylate before the second class of gutta-percha is coated about the first class.

Abstract: An endodontic reamer or file instrument for cleaning and shaping root canals includes a shank having a tapered working portion extending along a section of the shank length to a leading end. A pilot is attached to the working portion adjacent the leading end and is smaller in diameter than is the working portion at the leading end. The working portion includes at least one continuous helical flute which spirals along its length and a helical land at the periphery of the working portion which extends between adjacent flutes. The working portion also includes at least one lip adjacent the pilot which has a cutting edge which lies generally in a radial plane of the shank, and each flute which spirals along the length of the working portion toward the leading end terminates at the cutting edge of a corresponding lip so that as the instrument is moved longitudinally through a root canal, root canal tissue disposed to one side of the pilot is exposed to the cutting edge of the working portion.

Abstract: A method of obturating an extirpated root canal utilizes two types of filler material, one type of which is in the form of a gutta-percha point and the other type of which is a thermoplasticized gutta-percha having a melting temperature of about 15.degree. to 20.degree. C. less than the melting temperature of the gutta-percha point. The steps of the method include the introducing of an initial amount of thermoplasticized gutta-percha in a heated and softened condition into the root canal so that the initial amount fills the bottom of the canal. A gutta-percha point is then positioned within the root canal and another amount of thermoplasticized gutta-percha is introduced in a heated and softened condition into the canal. The thermoplasticized gutta-percha is then manipulated into contact with the portion of the gutta-percha point positioned within the root canal so that the gutta-percha point is fed into and compacted within the root canal with the thermoplasticized gutta-percha.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for applying gutta-percha to a shank-like carrier with which the gutta-percha is introduced into an extirpated root canal utilizes an elongated hollow barrel for holding an amount of gutta-percha and a plunger fitted within the barrel for sliding movement along the length of the barrel. The barrel is provided with a discharge opening at one end thereof into which one end of the shank-like carrier may be inserted. Upon heating the gutta-percha contained within the apparatus to a softened condition, inserting one end of the shank-like carrrier through the discharge opening, and then using the plunger toward the discharge end of the barrel to dispense gutta-percha therefrom while withdrawing the carrier from the discharge opening, the surface of the carrier is coated with the gutta-percha.