Endodontic instruments and root canal treatment methods

Abstract

Instruments and associated methods for performing endodontic treatment and that demand less time and fatigue onto the dentists and patients, while presenting the following accomplishments: debride the root canals in three dimensions and performing the optimal treatment; shape the root canals to facilitate the irrigation; these instruments are resistant to breakage and pressure while operating at high speed and torque; the instruments are capable of bypassing most obstacles, broken files, hypercalcification, curved roots canals, shoulders, and residual resistant pastes; and they present an alternative to arduous and expensive surgeries like endodontic or implant surgeries. As a result, they prevent fractures and procedural errors in making false canals or perforations of the root canals.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A file for root canal treatment having a shank with a generally circular cross sectional area. 
     
     
         2 . The file according to  claim 1 , wherein the shank terminates in a tip. 
     
     
         3 . The file according to  claim 2 , wherein the tip is a generally conical cutting tip. 
     
     
         4 . The file according to  claim 2 , wherein the tip is a generally conical non-cutting tip. 
     
     
         5 . The file according to  claim 2 , wherein the shank includes a roughened lateral surface. 
     
     
         6 . The file according to  claim 5 , wherein the lateral surface contains a plurality of striated grooves. 
     
     
         7 . The file according to  claim 6 , wherein the striated grooves include any one or more of: horizontal, vertical, and transversal grooves. 
     
     
         8 . The file according to  claim 7 , wherein the striated grooves are separated by smooth areas. 
     
     
         9 . The file according to  claim 5 , wherein lateral surface contains a plurality of saw teeth. 
     
     
         10 . The file according to  claim 5 , wherein the lateral surface is sandblasted. 
     
     
         11 . The file according to  claim 2 , wherein the tip is beveled. 
     
     
         12 . The file according to  claim 2 , wherein the file is any one of: a hand operated instrument and an electrically rotating instrument;
 wherein the shank is made from any one of: stainless steel with nos. ranging from 10 to 25; NiTi with nos. ranging from 20 to 25 for the hand operated instrument; and NiTi with nos. ranging from 10 to 25 for the electrically rotating instrument; and   wherein the shank has a taper that ranges between 0% and 4%, and a length that ranges from approximately 12 mm to 32 mm.   
     
     
         13 . The file according to  claim 2 , wherein the file is a hand operated instrument;
 wherein the shank is made from any one of: stainless steel with nos. ranging from 6 to 20, and NiTi with nos. ranging from nos. 20 to 40; and   wherein the shank has a taper that ranges between 0% and 4%, and a length that ranges from approximately 12 mm to 32 mm.   
     
     
         14 . The file according to  claim 2 , wherein the file is an electrically rotating instrument;
 wherein the shank ranges from nos. 10 to 20; and   wherein the shank has a taper that is approximately 2%, and a length that ranges from approximately 21 mm to 32 mm.   
     
     
         15 . The file according to  claim 2 , wherein the file is an electrically rotating instrument;
 wherein the shank ranges from nos. 20 to 40; and   wherein the shank has a taper that ranges between 4% and 10%, and a length that ranges from approximately 21 mm to 32 mm.   
     
     
         16 . A file for root canal treatment having a shank that includes a spiral section with an upper cylindro-conical section. 
     
     
         17 . The file according to  claim 16 , wherein the shank terminates in a tip; and
 wherein the tip is any of a cutting tip or a non-cutting tip.   
     
     
         18 . The file according to  claim 16 , wherein the cylindro-conical section includes a lateral surface; and
 wherein the lateral surface of the cylindro-conical section contains striated grooves.   
     
     
         19 . The file according to  claim 18 , wherein the striated grooves include any one or more of: horizontal, vertical, and transversal grooves. 
     
     
         20 . The file according to  claim 18 , wherein the striated grooves are separated by smooth areas. 
     
     
         21 . The file according to  claim 16 , wherein the spiral and cylindro-conical sections are sandblasted. 
     
     
         22 . The file according to  claim 16 , wherein the shank ranges from nos. 10 to 40; and
 wherein the shank has a taper that ranges between 2% and 10%, and a length that ranges from approximately 12 mm to 32 mm.   
     
     
         23 . A file for root canal treatment comprising:
 a shank; and   wherein the shank includes a series of cylindro-conical sections that are inter-spaced with a series of spiral sections.   
     
     
         24 . The file according to  claim 23 , wherein the tip is a cutting tip. 
     
     
         25 . The file according to  claim 23 , wherein the tip is a non-cutting tip. 
     
     
         26 . The file according to  claim 23 , wherein each cylindro-conical section includes a lateral surface;
 wherein the lateral surface of the cylindro-conical section contains striated grooves; and   wherein the striated grooves are formed of any one or more of: horizontal, vertical, and transversal grooves that are separated by smooth areas.   
     
     
         27 . The file according to  claim 23 , wherein the spiral and cylindro-conical sections are sandblasted. 
     
     
         28 . The file according to  claim 23 , wherein the shaft ranges from nos. 10 to 40; and
 wherein the shaft has a taper that ranges between 2% and 10%, and a length that ranges from approximately 12 mm to 32 mm.   
     
     
         29 . A root canal method for bypassing or penetrating root obstructions in a root canal, comprising:
 using a file having a shank with a generally circular cross-sectional area;   wherein the obstructions result from any one or more of: a fractured instrument, root obstacles, shoulders, resistant paste, hypercalcification, and curvature within the root canal.