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ePaper created 2016-01-20, 13:53:08 | version 1.38.0
42 I I industry report _ NiTi files _Nowhere in dentistry is technical progress as rapidasitisinmodernendodontics.Thedevelopment offlexiblenickel-titanium(NiTi)filesinthelate1980s createdentirelynewandhithertounknownopportu- nities in the mechanical preparation of root canals. The following article gives a descriptive explanation of the decisive technical differences between a con- ventional file system and the latest generation of in- struments. Employing a number of different scenar- ios,thearticleexaminestheopportunitiesavailableto ENDO specialists and beginners through the smart applicationofmodularNiTisystemsindifferenttreat- ment situations. Numerous innovations have made work signifi- cantlyeasierforendodontistsoverthepastfewyears. There can be little doubt that the introduction of ro- tary files made of nickel-titanium alloys is a major milestone. But what exactly is the secret behind this versatile material? Nitinol alloys generally consist of approximately 55% nickel and up to 45% titanium. It is this combination that lends the material its pseudo-elastic deformation properties. The second outstanding feature is the option of giving the mate- rial a shape memory. Back in 2011, the Swiss dental specialist COLTENE had already developed a method formodifyingthe‘DNA’ofNiTi,inwhichthefileswere given a true shape memory and thus allowed excep- tionallypreciseworking.Infuture,dentistsweretobe in a position where even strongly curved canals could be prepared safely and confidently without having to fear unexpected breaking of the instrument. The largely tension-free behaviour of this new file gener- ationcausedquiteasensationintheindustry,asithad hitherto not been possible to simply bend NiTi files by hand. The widely varying use of physical terminology over the years has been confusing, so to give a clearer understandingofwhatNiTisystemswitha‘controlled memory’ effect can offer, it pays to take a more pro- foundlookatthephysicalandmolecularrelationships. Fig. 1_The best known elastic deformable material. roots1_2015 Ashort history of the NiTi file revolution Author_ Dr Barbara Müller, Germany Fig. 1