Creating a solid glide path is essential before cleaning and shaping the root canal system with rotary endodontic files. Pathfiles are nickel titanium instruments designed to do this.
What’s good about it
PathFiles use mechanical rotation to create the glide path. This reduces the risk of ledging by helping to keep the file centred within the canal.
Being made from a NiTi alloy allows a degree of flexibility not seen in traditional stainless steel files. Negotiating curved canals can be difficult and rigid files are more likely to result in transportation of the canal. The flexibility of PathFiles is of great benefit where curves are most acute.
A comparison of PathFiles with stainless steel files in a glass block demonstrates how effectively they work without needing techniques such as ‘balanced force’.
There are times when tactile sensation is required during endodontics so it would be hard to argue that hand files are obsolete. However, for most endodontic treatments, Pathfiles speed up the process and make it easier for the general practitioner.
What’s not so good
As with any system, there is always a risk of file fracture. There is also a slight reduction in tactile sensation compared to hand files. While PathFiles are a great product, they are more expensive than most other files on the market.
Where did you get it
Dentsply (www.dentsply.com.au).
By Andalib John Gornall, Somersmiles Dental, Somerville, VIC.
