Instrumentation of the root canal system Flashcards
What is the purpose of instrumentation of the root canal? (4)
- Remove infected soft and hard tissue
- Give disinfecting irrigants access to apical canal space
- Create space for the delivery of medicaments and subsequent obturation
- Retain the integrity of radicular structures
What do you want to achieve when instrumenting a canal? (4)
- Get all the stuff out
- Widen it to allow you to put bleach in
- Make it easier to fill
- Keep it the same shape as before
What are the design objectives when doing RCT? (3)
- Create a continuously tapering funnel shape
- Maintain apical foramen in original position
- Keep apical opening as small as possible
What is the purpose of the chemo part in chemo-mechanical preparation? (2)
- Irrigate to kill microorganisms
- Remove smear layer
What is the purpose of the mechanical part in chemo-mechanical preparation? (2)
- Prepare shape
- Flush out debris and microorganisms when we irrigate
What is the aim of the mechanical part of chemo-mechanical disinfection? (3)
- Shape the canal
- Allows delivery of sodium hypochlorite to working length
- Creates shape to obturate
What are the possible challenges of root canal preparation? (3)
- The root canal system is very complex
- The number, length, curvature and diameter of canals can vary considerably
- Vertucci classification
What is the estimated working length?
- Estimated length at which instrumentation should be limited. Obtained by measuring pre-operative radiograph to determine distance between coronal reference point and radiographic apex then subtracting 1mm
What is the corrected working length?
- Length at which instrumentation and subsequent obturation should be limited. Obtained by the use of an electronic apex locator and/or working length radiograph
What is the master apical file?
- The largest diameter file taken to working length and therefore represents the final prepared size of the apical portion of the canal at the working length
What are the different types of motion? (5)
- Filing
- Reaming (warning)
- Watch-winding
- Balanced force motion
- Envelope of motion
Explain the ‘watch-winding’ motion?
- Backward and forward oscillation of 30-60 degrees
- Light apical pressure
Which type of file works effectively with a watch winding motion?
- K files
What is the watch-winding motion useful for?
- Useful for passing small files through canals
Explain the balances force tehcnique?
- Insert file and engage clockwise into the dentine 1/4 turn
- With continued pressure go counter clockwise 1/2 turn to strip the dentine away
- Do this 1-3 times before removing the file to remove debris and check the file
- Remove
- Clean
- Reintroduce, working your way to WL
Explain the ‘envelope of motion’ movement?
- Very important
- Remembering that in a lot of endodontic treatment you find that you can place a file in the canal in a particular way but you have to debride dentine 360 degrees round the canal - not just one wall
What is the initiate irrigation protocol for the canal? (3)
- EDTA for 17% for 1 minute
- Sodium hypochlorite 3%, 30ml for 10mins
- Slow injection, Don’t use thumb!
What is a ‘barbed broach’ used for?
- Used for extirpating, NOT enlarging
- Spiky bit of metal - can be used to get rid of bits of debris out of the root canal system
How are ‘barbed broach’ files formed?
- Formed from a tapered round shaft by lifting up portions of metal of the shaft almost at a right angle to the shaft
What MUST barbed broach files not engage?
- Must not engage canal walls
What may happen if a barbed broach file is misused?
- Extremely fragile instrument and will break easily if misused
How do the elevated barbs of the barbed broach instrument work?
- The elevated barbs engage the pulp tissue and remove it from the canal
- Use the largest size broach which will fit freely in the canal selected
What is another name for a K file?
- ISO instruments
How long are the cutting flutes of ISO instruments?
- All have 16mm cutting flutes
What is each ISO file named according to?
- Named according to its diameter at the tip
What is the taper of ISO instruments?
- Taper is 0.32 over the 16mm, or 0.02 per millimetre
What is the diameter of an ISO instrument at the end of the cutting surface closest to the handle?
- Diameter = apical size + 0.32mm
What is the cross-sectional shape of a k-reamer instrument?
- Triangle
What is the cross-sectional shape of a k-file instrument?
- Square
What is the cross-sectional shape of a H-file instrument?
- Comma (,) shaped
What kind of motion is used for a Hedstrom file?
- Used in a filing motion, cuts on withdrawal