Meet the Next-Generation NiTi File System from a Leader in Minimally Invasive Dentistry
For over a century, endodontic dentistry was guided by a virtually unchanging set of standards. However, modern developments
have given way to a radical shift in the field. Over the last two decades or so, experts have begun to point to peri-cervical dentin, the “neck” area of the tooth approximately 4 mm coronal and 6 mm apical to crestal bone, as the most common site for significant root fracture and, subsequently, restorative failure. From these discoveries, a push to conserve this valuable tissue has grown within the community. This is the minimally invasive movement, a philosophical and practical approach that combines the original aim of endodontics—eliminating disease—with a more conservative technique that prioritizes critical tooth structure preservation. Minimally invasive endodontic therapy supports better treatment outcomes, because when peri-cervical dentin is kept intact, teeth are more structurally sound and therefore more resistant to the effects of occlusion and decay, equating to greater long-term dental health.
With the advent of the minimally invasive movement came the inevitable need for new products, and manufacturer SS White® Dental quickly rose to the challenge. In 2002, the company introduced Fissurotomy instruments, a watershed in that they were the first available preparation and exploration burs designed for minimally invasive treatment. Since then, SS White has proven itself an invaluable asset to practitioners of endodontic therapy, delivering product after innovative product for specialists and general practitioners alike. This includes EndoGuide, a unique set of carbide burs for non-surgical, conservative root canal treatment, as well as DCTaper files which mirror the natural shape of the root to enable deep apical shaping and conservative coronal shaping. Now, with the recent unveiling of EXACTTaperH DC™, SS White provides an impressive new tool for general dentists looking to practice minimally invasive technique and maximize the success of endodontic treatment.
Representing the next generation of NiTi files, the EXACTTaperH DC file system provides an ideal anatomical fit to the natural dimensions of the size and shape of the root canal. Endodontist and educator John Khademi, DDS, MS, describes SS White’s new files as “a modern, minimally invasive version” of the NiTi file, an apt comparison given the instruments’ innovative variable decreasing taper which preserves more peri-cervical dentin than other leading files on the market. According to SS White, at 0.8 mm, EXACTTaperH DC features a 33% smaller maximum flute diameter (MFD) and is 58% stronger than the closest comparable file. In addition to maximizing dentin conservation and preventing over-preparation, these properties respectively grant EXACTTaperH DC greater resistance to cyclic fatigue and significantly reduce the chances of file separation.
Thanks to SS White's proprietary heat-treating processes, EXACTTaperH DC files are imbued with superior controlled memory and flexibility for up to 90-degree curves. Endodontic specialist and EXACTTaperH DC user Dr. Reza Farshey calls the flexibility of the files “simply unreal,” as the system can readily accommodate even the most complex canal anatomies. The system has also been designed with multiple tapers to ensure flexibility and cut dentin in specific canal zones, and can produce the proper apical fit for matching EXACTTaperH DC gutta-percha points. As an added benefit, EXACTTaperH DC files are available in comparable sizes, lengths, and tapers to popular file systems on the market—this means, as Dr. Khademi explains, EXACTTaperH DC files “give the clinician all the advantages of dentin preservation without having to change preparation or obturation technique.”
To learn more about the EXACTTaperH DC file system, find other minimally invasive solutions from SS White, and order products for your practice, visit their website.