Product Evaluation

EDGE ENDO

EdgeTaper Platinum

FireWire heat treatment gives these NiTi files the strength and flexibility to navigate challenging canals without the fear of file separation and breakage

During what is supposed to be a routine root canal procedure, dentists are often thrown a curveball in the form of a tortuous or calcified canal or some other complication. For the seasoned endodontist, those curveballs can suddenly alter your treatment plan and possibly bring treatment to a grinding halt. And for the general dentist who may be less accustomed to dealing with complex cases, what begins as a typical appointment can end in a referral to an endodontist.

Fortunately, EdgeEndo’s EdgeTaper Platinum rotary file system allows both general dentists and specialists to navigate complex canal anatomies with ease. And, thanks to the proprietary FireWire heat treatment that gives these NiTi files unmatched flexibility and strength, dentists can say goodbye to fi le breakage or separation.

“As endodontists, our goal is to clean and shape every canal referred to us, including the difficult ones,” explained Dr. Paul Kaplan, who discovered that EdgeTaper Platinum files allow him to “more efficiently and effectively negotiate challenging canal morphologies and reach the apices in almost every case.” He said this system saves time, enhances the patient experience, and improves ergonomics, allowing him to work “without much pressure on my hands or wrist fatigue.” After using EdgeTaper Platinum for this DPS evaluation, Dr. Kaplan says it is now his “new go-to fi le system, especially for the more difficult cases.”

Cutting & Shaping Efficiency

EdgeTaper Platinum features the same sizes, lengths, and technique—and similar tapers—as familiar variable taper fi le systems, allowing easy transition from other systems. “Color coding with familiar colors as other brands of fi les made an easy transition for usage,” noted Dr. Tony Wu, and Dr. Amir Noori E. said the files “increase efficiency and save time [with] excellent canal shaping.” Dr. Philip Aurbach appreciated that they “cut well and did not separate,” and Dr. R.J. Sondkar said they “cut and shape very smoothly without any rough engagement on the canal walls.”

Available in 21-, 25-, and 31-mm lengths and sold in packs of 6 fi les, EdgeTaper Platinum comes in 8 fi le choices in a familiar sequence—F1, F2, F3, F4, F5, S1, S2, & SX. For this product review, the dentists used the F-series with the SX fi le, which is 19 mm in length. “Providing prepackaged fi les provided ease of file sequence,” said Dr. Wu, Dr. Kaplan liked “how the tapers were arranged for an easy transition from one size to the next,” and Dr. Todd Sarubin appreciated the “simple setup with good match to gutta-percha.” Noting that EdgeTaper Platinum offers more sizes than his previous file system, Dr. Steven Dater said, “It made my job easier and produced a very high quality of cleanliness in the canal system.”

Resistance to Breakage/File Separation

According to EdgeEndo, EdgeTaper Platinum files feature unmatched strength with more resistance to cyclic fatigue than leading variable taper files. “Theyare well-made files that eliminate concerns about the instrument separating in the canal,” noted Dr. Thomas Morgan. The files “cut and shape the canals efficiently with increased resistance to breakage and fatigue failure,” according to Dr. Noori E., and Dr. Sondkar said, “The extreme flex of these files gives me confidence to work on very curved canals that I’d otherwise not take on.” He added, “EdgeEndo has made a quantum leap with more flexible files that work very well in curved canals, which can otherwise be daunting for a GP dentist.”

“I am able to more effi ciently and effectively negotiate challenging canal morphologies and reach the apices in almost every case.”

Paul Kaplan, DMD Sharon, MA

Ease of Navigating Curved Canals

EdgeTaper Platinum files are capable of navigating 90o curves with no bounceback, according to EdgeEndo, which was appreciated by Dr. Wu. “The files being bendable allowed them to more easily navigate curved canals,” he explained. Noting that “the flexibility was eye opening,” Dr. Alfred dela Cruz shared how he was able to straighten a file that was accidentally bent more than 90o . After straightening it, he continued with the procedure and said, “I never saw anything like it before.” He also enjoyed the “simple 4 or 5 file sequence” compared to “a complicated assortment of rotary files with too many tapers” and said procedures “went quickly and smoothly.”

Dr. Sarubin used the 31-mm fi le to reach the apex of a 27-mm-long, thin and tortuous canal “without much effort at all” and was “shocked at how efficient the system was.” Dr. Sondkar was impressed with the “excellent flexibility in curved canals compared to other systems,” and Dr. Morgan felt “great comfort going into curved canals.”

Overall Satisfaction

Calling EdgeTaper Platinum “systematic, easy to use, and predictable,” Dr. Morgan declared, “I highly recommend!” Dr. Nathaniel Behrents said it “performed similarly to my current system and is far less expensive.” Concluding that the files made a “tremendously positive impact” on his practice, Dr. Kaplan said, “I was incredibly impressed with so many facets of this product. Everything it promised it would do, it did.”

Takeaways

• Heat-treated FireWire NiTi provides unmatched strength and flexibility

• Available in 21-, 25-, and 31-mm lengths with 8 fi le choices— F1, F2, F3, F4, F5, S1, S2, & SX (19 mm only)

• Able to navigate 90o curves with no bounceback, preserving the apical anatomy

• Better resistance to cyclic fatigue than leading variable taper files

• Used with the same technique, sizes, lengths and tapers as familiar brands