Shaping the Future of Endodontics

There have been significant advancements in the development of NiTi rotary instruments in recent years. This evolution is driven by market demand and the continuous improvement in the manufacturing process. Dentists have increasingly identified the features they deem essential on the endless journey towards a more perfect file. These features include flexibility, efficiency, safety, and simplicity. The ProTaper system has been designed to provide these features; consequently, its entrance into the marketplace has had a profound effect. The ProTaper NiTi files (Dentsply Maillefer; Ballaigues, Switzerland) represent a revolutionary generation of instruments for shaping root canals (Fig. 19.1). This chapter will review the ProTaper geometries, then describe the ProTaper concepts, techniques and finishing criteria that may be utilized to fulfill the mechanical and biological objectives for shaping canals. Learning the ProTaper concept will lead to discovery then appreciation for this six instrument set, comprised of just three Shaping and three Finishing files (Fig. 19.2).