Endodontic systems and methods for preparing upper portions of root canals with increasingly rigid files

A method for anatomical cleaning of the operative coronal portion and the operative middle portion of an operative root canal in a tooth, the method comprising:

• exposing the root canal by removing a portion of the tooth at a crown thereof and by removing the top of the pulp chamber;
• obtaining a set of first endodontic instruments wherein each instrument has a file that extends from an end means for grasping and operatively moving the file, wherein the file has an abrading portion for removing pulp material that extends from a tip to a top end of the abrading portion, and wherein each file has a length corresponding to at least the combined length of the operative coronal portion and the operative middle portion;
• removing and cleaning essentially all pulp material from the operative coronal portion and the operative middle portion by sequentially introducing the files of the instruments in the set of first endodontic instruments into the operative middle portion such that each successive file has an abrading portion with a greater top end diameter than that of the preceding file, and then flexing each file such that the abrading portion of each file is urged against root canal surfaces within the operative middle portion as each instrument is rotated and moved in a cleaning motion in conformance with the anatomical shape of the operative middle portion by following the contours of the operative middle portion as a guide for movement of each instrument, without significantly extending the file of each instrument into the apical root portion, and wherein at least the top end of each abrading portion of each sequentially introduced file applies greater force against the root canal surfaces than the previously introduced file to enable each sequentially introduced file to more rapidly and aggressively clean than the previously introduced file.

An endodontic instrument system adapted for anatomical cleaning of the operative coronal portion and the operative middle portion of an operative root canal in a tooth, the endodontic instrument system comprising:

• a set of first endodontic instruments configured for sequential use in the operative middle portion of an operative root canal to anatomically clean essentially all pulp material from the operative middle portion without significantly extending into the apical root portion, each instrument in the set including
• a file having a length corresponding to at least the combined length of the operative coronal portion and the operative middle portion in order to remove pulp material from essentially all of the operative middle portion of the operative root canal, the file having an abrading portion adapted for removing pulp material through abrasive action as the file is rotated, the abrading portion being located on the file and extending between a tip to a top end along at least most of the file, the file being able to flex such that the abrading portion is urged against root canal surfaces while the file is rotated and moved in a cleaning motion, thereby enabling contours of the operative middle portion to be used as a guide for movement of the file in conformance to the anatomical shape of the operative middle portion while effecting removal and cleaning of pulp material from essentially all of the operative middle portion,
• wherein the file of each instrument in the set of first endodontic instruments has sufficient rigidity to apply pressure against the root canal surfaces via the abrading portion as each file is flexed to urge the abrading portion against root canal surfaces and as each file is simultaneously moved in a cleaning motion, and
• wherein each sequentially introduced file has greater rigidity than the previously introduced file along at least an upper part of the abrading portion of each file to enable each sequentially introduced file to more rapidly and aggressively clean than the previously introduced file, and
• a handle connected to each file opposite from the tip, the handle being configured to enable a user to operatively move the file in an abrasive action while bending and flexing the file within the operative middle portion of the operative root canal.

An endodontic instrument system adapted for anatomical cleaning of the operative coronal portion and the operative middle portion of an operative root canal in a tooth, the endodontic instrument system comprising:

• a set of first endodontic instruments configured for sequential use in the operative middle portion of an operative root canal to anatomically clean essentially all pulp material from the operative middle portion without significantly extending into the apical root portion, each instrument in the set including
• a file having a length corresponding to at least the combined length of the operative coronal portion and the operative middle portion in order to remove pulp material from essentially all of the operative middle portion of the operative root canal, the file having an abrading portion adapted for removing pulp material through abrasive action as the file is rotated, the abrading portion being located on the file and extending from a tip to a top end along at least most of the file, the file being able to flex such that the abrading portion is urged against root canal surfaces while the file is rotated and moved in a cleaning motion, thereby enabling contours of the operative middle portion to be used as a guide for movement of the file in conformance to the anatomical shape of the operative middle portion while effecting removal and cleaning of pulp material from essentially all of the operative middle portion,
• wherein the files of all of the instruments in the set of first endodontic instruments have the same length and essentially the same tip diameter while the abrading portions have distinct top end diameters to enable the files to be sequentially introduced into the operative middle portion such that each successive file has an abrading portion with a greater top end diameter than that of the preceding file, and
• wherein each sequentially introduced file has greater rigidity than the previously introduced file along at least an upper part of the abrading portion of each file to enable each sequentially introduced file to more rapidly and aggressively clean than the previously introduced file, and
• a handle connected to the top end of the file such that movement of the handle also moves at least the top end of the file along a common axis with the handle, the handle being configured to enable a user to operatively move the file in an abrasive action while flexing the file within the operative middle portion of the operative root canal.