69 results about "Endodontic files" patented technology

A fluteless endodontic file is provided, formed from a tapered shaft of material having a prismatic shape generally defined by three or more side surfaces and three or more interposed corners. A plurality of notches are cut into one or more corners defining cutting surfaces, points and / or edges. The notched cutting surfaces are formed such that the file, when rotated and / or reciprocated within a root canal, effectively cuts / debrides hard tissue (known in the art as dentin) as well as soft tissue, thus, forming an optimal canal shape. The cutting surfaces are also preferably formed at an angle to the centerline of the instrument to provide optimal cutting efficiency and material removal. The fluteless file design exhibits increased efficacy, with less tendency to bind and break within the root canal and also significantly reduces manufacturing and capital equipment costs.

Precipitation hardenable stainless steel endodontic files and methods for their manufacture, wherein the most preferred precipitation hardenable stainless steel is 17-4PH and aging is preferably not one of the manufacturing steps. Precipitation hardenable stainless steels used in embodiments of this invention are iron-chromium-nickel grades that have the desired properties of flexibility, strength, hardness, wear resistance, stiffness, resistance to permanent deformation, resistance to variable torque, and biocompatibility for endodontic files.

The present invention relates to dental instruments used in tooth restoration and replacement including dental burs, dental discs, tapes, endodontic files, surgical drills and taps, having abrading working surfaces coated or embedded with diamond particles or chips onto the substrate or shank, the abrading surfaces having a flexible diamond-like carbon (DLC) coating. The substrate may be flexible or the shank may be made of a relatively hard substrate and diamond particles or chips may be coated or embedded onto the substrate or shank through the use of polymeric bonding agents, through embedding in a nickel or nickel alloy matrix, or through chemical vapor deposition, or even direct coating if polymeric substrates are used. The abrading surface may also be formed through the formation of cutting edges or surfaces on the substrate. The present invention further relates to a dental tip, which may be part of an ultrasonic dental insert may be made of a metallic or polymeric substrate which is coated with a flexible and durable coating. The coated tip is bent or can be bent to a desired configuration. The coating is made of a diamond-like-carbon (DLC) coating having at least about 5 atomic percent of hydrogen. The coated abrading surfaces or tips are longer lasting than uncoated surfaces and the coating may also serve as a wear indicator. Further, the coating is present on the surface of the bur or tip during use without obstructing the abrasive function of the dental instruments.

A rotatable endodontic file for cleaning / shaping a tooth root canal, comprising an elongated shaft having a proximal end portion, a distal end and a tapered working portion having a rotational axis, the working portion extending from the proximal portion to the distal end, the external surface of the shaft working portion having a plurality of at least two spiraled, spaced apart continuous helical flutes, the flutes having therebetween an equal number of spiraled, spaced apart flanges, each flange having in a plane perpendicular the rotational axis an outer end surface forming a continuous spiraled scraping / cutting edge extending the length of the shaft working portion, the flutes having helical angles relative to the rotational axis of between 10° and 30° and wherein the helical angles vary at selected longitudinal locations.

An improved rotary endodontic file includes a multi-planar pre-curved apical portion having a first and a second curvature. The pre-curved apical portion begins at about one-third to one-quarter of the working length as measured from the tip end of the endodontic instrument. The first and second curvature permit the file to continually search and engage the walls of a tooth root canal in a forced inside-forced outside manner. As the file works its way down, it breaks free of any ledges encountered, probes lateral- and delta-type openings, and does not allow the file to stray from the curvature of the canal.

An endodontic file (10) has at least a central longitudinal cord (12), a helically wound wire (14) at least partially surrounding the cord and an elastomeric grip (16) partially covering the helically wound wire near a first end thereof and having an outer diameter that is slightly wider than an internal diameter of a barrel of a dental instrument whereby on insertion into the barrel it is supported therein only by friction.

A single use, reciprocal reverse rotation, endodontic file includes a plurality of spaced apart helical flutes with spiraled lands therebetween. The lands have an edge with a positive cutting angle when the file is rotated in one direction and a scraping angle when rotated in the opposite direction. The file provides for sequential rotation of a selected angle in a forward direction followed by rotation of a slightly less angle in a reverse direction. In one embodiment, the cross-sectional area of the flutes is concave polygonal-shaped at a proximal end of the file and square-shaped at the distal end. In another embodiment, the cross-sectional area of the flutes is convex arcuate-shaped, the lands lying normal to the central longitudinal axis of the file. The handle portion of the file may be configured for use in a rotary handpiece or for manual rotation.

An endodontic file (200) is provided particularly adapted for the removal of tooth structure, decayed or damaged nerve tissues or dentine material on the interior walls of a root canal or dentine and / or enamel from the external tooth wall. The endodontic instrument includes a shaft (202) having a shank portion (204) and a generally elongated working portion (206). The working portion preferably includes cutting or abrading features (232) adapted upon rotation and / or reciprocation of the instrument to cut, abrade or remove tissue from the interior walls of a root canal or dentine and / or enamel from the external tooth wall. The working portion extends from a proximal end (207) adjacent the shank portion to a distal end (208) terminating at a tip (250). The entire instrument and / or at least the working portion thereof is formed of an amorphous or essentially amorphous material having no or essentially no detectable crystalline structure and / or from a nanocrystalline material having an average crystalline grain size less than about 1 μm. The instrument may be formed by conventional grinding operations or by direct casting, forging or molding, in a manner producing an integral as-molded instrument having one or more sharp cutting edges. The instrument is inexpensive to manufacture and exhibits improved cutting-edge sharpness, wear resistance, lubriciousness and resistance to breakage.

Apparatus is disclosed for use in cleaning dental root canals using an endodontic file. The file is mounted in a drill head driven by an electric motor. The motor is normally driven in one, forward direction but periodically the motor rotation is reversed for a very short time. The duration of the motor reversal is so short that although the motor rotates in the reverse direction, the inertia and backlash in the transmission between the motor output shaft and the drill head is such that the direction of rotation of the file in the root canal is not changed.

A multi-tapered endodontic file is provided, formed from shaft of material having a shaft. The shaft includes a working portion having one or more tissue-removing edges, points and / or surfaces. The working portion includes at least a first flute and a second flute. The first flute is tapered along its length in accordance with a first predetermined taper function. The second flute is tapered along its length in accordance with a second predetermined taper function.

The invention is an instrument for cleaning and / or shaping and / or widening a channel that exists in or through a solid object. The design of the instrument the superelastic and shape memory properties of the material from which it is made, allow the inner volume enclosed by the instrument, its outer contour, or both to change as a result of the forces exerted upon it while working, thereby shaping the instrument to the three-dimensional contour of the channel. A preferred embodiment of the instrument is an endodontic file for use in the cleaning, shaping, and widening stages of a root canal procedure.