Where Memory Meets Flexibility

Like many of his peers, Dr. Rico Short was trained on using hand fi les for root canals and never thought the wiser—that is, until rotary files came onto the scene.

“I remember when rotary files first came to market and people were like, ‘Are you crazy? That’s never going to work,’” recalled Dr. Short, a board-certified endodontist in Smyrna, GA. “Those first-generation rotary files were really stiff. They definitely took the stress out of our fingers, but if there was a round curved canal, a lot of them would break and separate. You were on pins and needles every time you used one, wondering whether it was going to come out in one piece.”

But over time, as nickel-titanium (NiTi) technology advanced and heat treatment was introduced, rotary files became increasingly more flexible, safe, and strong. “We no longer need to take a deep breath every time we’re using one,” said Dr. Short.

Controlled Memory in the Driver’s Seat

Today, Dr. Short equates rotary files to driving a car with power steering, and for many years, his vehicle of choice has been Kerr’s ZenFlex NiTi rotary shaping file system. He recently added the new ZenFlex CM files to his routine. A proprietary metallurgy and heat treatment design make them remarkably resistant to both cyclic fatigue and fi le separation.

“The new ZenFlex CM file is even better than the original,” Dr. Short shared. “I love having the ability to precurve it, which is great for accessing tight areas, and the cutting efficiency and flexibility of the files are excellent. I don’t have to worry about them breaking easily, and I think that’s what makes them stand out from other systems.”

The ZenFlex CM fi le system is offered in comprehensive tip sizes from 0.13 to 0.30 mm and .04 and .06 taper configurations—an upgrade that Dr. Short finds particularly useful.

“The new tip sizes are very unique and offer more incremental steps between sizes,” he said. “Most file systems stop at 0.15 mm, but this one has 0.17-, 0.15-, and 0.13-mm sizes, which makes it a much smoother transition —especially when you’re dealing with very small canal systems and a really tight apex.”

A Smoother Workflow

Since opening Apex Endodontics 20 years ago, Dr. Short has treated countless patients in his practice, including some notable celebrities.

“It’s a pretty fast-paced office, so we need to have file systems and equipment in place that match the efficiency and quality we provide to our patients,” he said, adding that he’s seen many patients’ dental IQs skyrocket in recent years. “We want to make sure we’re using the latest technology because our patients demand that.”

By and large, the curve of ZenFlex CM files affords Dr. Short a much smoother workflow vs other less flexible file systems. “We can take care of patients efficiently without losing quality,” he concluded.