Endodontic Instruments
Classification
International Standards Organization (ISO) has grouped root canal
instruments according to their use:
• Group I: hand use only:
• Files H-type
• K-type reamers and files
• Group III: engine driven latch type
• Low speed instruments where latch type
attachment is in one piece with working part.
• Gates Glidden drills and Peeso reamers.
• Broaches
• Group II: engine driven latch type
• Same design as in group I but made to attach
to hand piece.
• Profile, Lightspeed
• Group IV: root canal points.
• Gutta percha, silver points and paper points.
According to Grossman [based on the function]
1) Exploring
: to locate the canal orifices.
to determine or assist in obtaining patency of
the R C
Egs
: Endodontic explorer
2) Debridement : to extirpate the pulp
to remove cotton pellets or paper points
Egs
: barbed broach
3) Cleaning &
Shaping Egs : Reamers and file
4) Obturating : For condensation of G.P & to
Egs
create space laterally
: Spreaders ,pluggers and lentulospirals
Materials used:
a) In 19th century carbon steel was used for manufacturing
of instruments.
Disadvantages brittleness of metal, corrosion during steam
sterilisation.
b) In 20th century stainless steel was used by Kerr company .
Advantages : It is flexible , less fracture ,less susceptible to
corrosion.
Disadvantage: when canal curvature is > 450 it may fracture
c) Nickel titanium (nitinol) NiTi__most flexible
• Advantages – low elastic modulus, very good elastic flexibility- used in
curved canal, shape memory alloy, corrosion resistant and biocompatibility
• Dis advantage –expensive , poor cutting, easily fracture, difficult to
manufacture and mill.
Hand instruments specific to endodontics
ENDODONTIC SPOON
DG 16 EXPLORER
LOCKING PLIERS
Burs for access cavity
STANDARDISATION:
Ingle and Levine in 1958 recommended.
- 3 features
a) Diameter and width
b) Length
of cutting blade
c) Taper
D1---1/100th of mm
D2---D1+0.32mm
Taper is 0.02mm/mm of length
1) Instrument are numbered from 10 to 100, the numbers to advance by 5
units to size 60 and then by 10 units till size 100
2) Each number shall describe the diameter of instrument in 100th of a mm at the
tip ,eg: size 10-tip is 0.1mm
3) The working blade (flutes) shall begin at the tip designated as D1, and the flutes
extends to the length of 16mm designated as D2
Taper of the instrument from D1 to D2 is in increments of 0.02mm in
width/mm of length
So, the diameter of D2 shall be 0.32mm greater than D1
ex: 20 reamer-------D1 is 0.20mm
D2 is 0.20+0.32= 0.52mm
Other specifications:
a) Tip angle of instrument----75° ± 15 °
b) Instrument sizes should increase by 0.05mm at D1 between
10 to 60 And by 0.1 mm from 60 to 100 for increased
instrument selection.
4) Instruments are color coded
White
15
45
90
Yellow 20
50
100
Red
25
55
110
Blue
30
60
120
Green
35
70
130
black
40
80
140
For narrow Root canals- size 06, 08 , 10 are used
pink ,grey purple
Broaches
: oldest endo instrument
: used for removal of pulp tissue
: used for removal of cotton or paper
points from Root canal
Broach
1. Barb height is large
2. As the barb comes out of instrument, broach is a weaker
instrument compared to rasp
3. Taper is 0.007 to 0.01 mm/mm
4. Barb are Fine and longer
5. Broachs should not be used beyond middle 3rd of Root
canal and also entangle in Root canal and get separated
Files
Reamer
Square c.s
triangular c.s
Tighter flutes
loose spirals
Resists fracture better.
Cutting efficiency is 2.5
times more
Maintains keen edge
sharpness is lost rapidly
More number of flutes
less number of flutes
Filing and reaming motion
reaming motion
H- File machined instrument
• It resembles ‘Christmas tree’ appearance.
[cone over cone]
• used to remove loose broken instrument
• Circular in cross section.
• Spiral grooves
• Cuts only when the instrument is pulled
• Cuts very aggressively
• Used in straight cannels
• Less flexibility
• Fractures when used in torque motion
Group 3- Slow Speed Engine driven Stainless Steel
instruments
• Gates Glidden drills – safe tip
• Orifice opening
• Deeper penetration into straight canals
• Removal of lingual shoulder
• Peeso reamers
• Post space preparation
• Use safe-tipped to prevent lateral perforation
Armamentarum for obturation
• Spreaders
• Pluggers
• Lentulos spirals
• Scissors for cutting gutta purcha
• Endogauge for measuring gutta purcha points
• Tweezer for carrying gutta purcha points
Scissors
Tweezer
Spreaders
Pluggers
Endogauge
Obturation instruments
• Spreaders- used for lateral condensation made
• up of stainless steel and having sharp ends (15 – 45 )
• 2 types – hand
- Finger
• Pluggers- used for vertical and condensation- blunt end
• 2 types – hand – vertical and lateral condensation
- Finger - vertical condensation
• Lentulos spirals: used to carry sealer cements to
root canal
Vertical and lateral condensation