[Treatment of curved canals: from stainless steel to nickel titanium]

Minerva Stomatol. 2004 Jun;53(6):325-35.
[Article in Italian]

Abstract

Endodontic treatment of curved canals is always more difficult than straight canals, especially for the apical zone preparation: root canals may present several curvatures in different space directions. From an anatomical point of view root canals with accentuated curvatures are a very frequent event (more than we might think); radiological exams, in fact, give us only a 2D image, and we can observe mesial or distal curvatures but not those in the oral or buccal direction. However, all root canals have curvatures of some degrees; even those that appear straight. Because of this, endodontitis have made many attempts to overcome these problems and manage to have a good preparation in curve canal. The authors analyse all endodontic techniques (step back, step down, crown down, balanced forces) codified in the course of the years, to prepare curved canals; they both in shape or in materials. It's fundamental for the endodontist to have a specific technique to treat curved canals to allow a good, wide preparation; in this way it's possible to make a better and tridimensional filling of the endodontic space above all in the tipical zone.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Dental Alloys*
  • Dental Pulp Cavity / abnormalities*
  • Dental Pulp Cavity / diagnostic imaging
  • Humans
  • Nickel*
  • Radiography
  • Root Canal Preparation / methods*
  • Stainless Steel*
  • Titanium*

Substances

  • Dental Alloys
  • titanium nickelide
  • Stainless Steel
  • Nickel
  • Titanium