Slide 1


Slide 2

NEW ROTARY NiTi INSTRUMENTS FOR

MECHANICAL GLIDE PATH &
PREFLARING


Slide 3

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.


Slide 4

PREFLARING & GLIDE PATH– IMPORTANCE

 Study conclusions
By creating a canal (a Glide Path) at least as large as the diameter
of the NiTi rotary instrument that will be used successively (and
which has a greater taper), drastically reduces the torsional stress
and, therefore, the risk of file separation.


Slide 5

PREFLARING & GLIDE PATH– IMPORTANCE

 Glide Path is an essential step:
-

to fully understand and appreciate the anatomy of the canal to
be treated (i.e. mentally develop a three dimensional image of
the canal system to shape)

-

to reduce the risk of rotary instrument breakage


Slide 6

MANUAL PREFLARING – PROBLEMS

 The initial preflaring and glide path are normally carried out with
stainless steel hand files.
 Because of the relative stiffness of these instruments, it can be
difficult to avoid the risk of:
- canal transportation
→ may lead, in severe cases, to root canal perforation


Slide 7

MANUAL PREFLARING – PROBLEMS

 Because of the relative stiffness of these instruments, it can be
difficult to avoid the risk of:
- ledges

→ the tip could block in the canal and, if not withdrawn but
pushed apically, could eventually break
- apical zip

→ may lead to obturation difficulties


Slide 8

PREFLARING & GLIDE PATH – NEW SOLUTION
 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).
Flexible and resistant to cyclic fatigue, they offer many advantages
compared to manual solutions.


Slide 9

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


Slide 10

PATHFILE™ – OTHER SEQUENCES

LARGE AND EASY CANALS
 If it is possible to reach the full working length with a K-File #020,
the Glide Path is not necessary and no PathFile™ will therefore
have to be used.


Slide 11

PATHFILE™ – OTHER SEQUENCES

“INTERMEDIATE” CANALS
 If the user feels, during the initial scouting with the K-File 010, that
the canal is rather wide, the recommendation is to use either
PathFile™ 016 and 019 or even only PathFile™ 019.


Slide 12

PATHFILE™ – OTHER SEQUENCES

THIN, CUVED, CALCIFIED CANALS
 In these cases the standard sequence is recommended, i.e.
PathFile™ 013, 016 and 019


Slide 13

PATHFILE™ – DIRECTIONS FOR USE

 Rotation speed ≈ 300 rpm
 Instruments should be used with a delicate in/out movement until
they reach the full length. Strong axial forces should therefore be
avoided.
 Time needed to reach working length normally does not exceed 35 seconds/file
 The rotating motion will carry debris in a coronal direction


Slide 14

FEATURES AND BENEFITS
Development in collaboration with Prof Berutti,
Prof Cantatore and Dr Castellucci
 support of 3 internationally renowned Opinion Leaders as well
as of the Dentsply Maillefer OPL network

 quality evidence thanks to their expertise


Slide 15

PATHFILE™ – FEATURES & BENEFITS

NiTi – Square Section – 2% Taper
 high strength against cyclic fatigue
 flexibility

Tip diameters (013-016-019)
 gradual increase that facilitates the progression of the files
without the need for strong axial pressure


Slide 16

PATHFILE™ – FEATURES & BENEFITS

Tip design (transition angle reduction)
 Reduced risk of ledges and canal transportation

PathFile™

K-File


Slide 17

PATHFILE™ – STUDY CONCLUSION

 The study carried out by Prof Berutti, Prof Cantatore and Dr
Castellucci clearly shows that, when compared to manual
instruments, PathFile™:
1. better maintains the original canal anatomy
→ less canal transportation and canal aberrations
2. is more forgiving procedural errors such as incorrect working
length
→ no apical transport when WL is too long
→ no ledges when WL is too short


Slide 18

PATHFILE™ – STUDY CONCLUSION

 The study carried out by Prof Berutti, Prof Cantatore and Dr
Castellucci clearly shows that, when compared to manual
instruments, PathFile™:
3. reduces the instrumentation time needed
4. allows General Dental Practitioners to obtain similar results to
those achieved by endodontists


Slide 19

PATHFILE™
EXAMPLE TREATMENTS


Slide 20

PATHFILE™ – EXAMPLES

Prof. Elio Berutti


Slide 21

PATHFILE™ – EXAMPLES

Prof. Elio Berutti


Slide 22

PATHFILE™ – EXAMPLES

Prof. Elio Berutti