NON CIRCULAR ENDODONTIC INSTRUMENTS

摘要

A non-circular endodontic instrument is provided for reduced stress to the tooth and to the cutting instrument during the removal of dentin from a root canal. The non-circular endodontic instrument includes at least one area of non-contact, i.e. one portion of the instrument does not contact and does not cut the dentin material. The non-contact area extends the length of the endodontic instrument, about a portion of the circumference of the instrument, and interrupts a generally circular cutting face of the instrument. This non-contact area reduces stress and provides a place for debris to gather during cutting so as to not interfere with the cutting face, and serves to direct the debris out of the root canal. The endodontic instrument can be D-shaped in cross-section, it could have circumferentially opposing non-contact areas and/or can be elliptical in cross-sectional shape.