The envelope of motion and ProTaper NEXT™

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Dr. Michael J. Scianamblo examines the envelope of motion in root canal preparation with a current review of the literature

Introduction
Schilder (1974) was the first clinician to provide a detailed discussion of the root canal preparation referring to the procedure as cleaning and shaping and to outline specific design objectives, which included a continuously tapering shape, maintenance of the original anatomy, an apex that is as small as practical, and conservation of tooth structure.

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This continuously tapering space was acquired using hand instrumentation with alternating reamers and files. Each instrument was pre-curved, which dictated alternate or intermittent contact with the canal walls and created what Schilder called an “envelope of motion.” This intermittent contact not only produced continuously tapering shapes, but also minimized both the transportation of the original canal and the opportunity for instrument breakage. Close examination of Schilder’s envelope of motion reveals that although these instruments rotated axially, they cut along a precessional axis, much like a spinning top (Figure 1A).

Figure 1A: A schematic of Schilder’s envelope of motion using a curved file with a specific arc length. Note that although the instrument is rotated axially, the instrument can only cut along the greater curvature of the file (indicated by the point of contact) or via a precessional axis, much like a spinning top
Figure 1A: A schematic of Schilder’s envelope of motion using a curved file with a specific arc length. Note that although the instrument is rotated axially, the instrument can only cut along the greater curvature of the file (indicated by the point of contact) or via a precessional axis, much like a spinning top

Weine, et al., 1975, used clear acrylic blocks to evaluate the effectiveness of various instrumentation techniques, but their conclusions were somewhat disconcerting. They found that utilization of standard instruments in either reaming and/or filing produced preparations that were irregular in shape and were not continuously tapering. The narrowest part of the canal, the so-called “elbow,” was located at a point coronal to the apex or foramen. In addition, the foramen often displayed transportation, which was called the “apical zip.” These characteristics were felt to result from the elastic memory of instruments and a predilection to straighten as they are migrated around curves. To alleviate this problem, Weine suggested removing the flutes from the outer surface of pre-curved files.

Coffae and Brilliant (1976) corroborated the work of Schilder demonstrating that tapering preparations were more efficacious in the removal of debris from the root canal system when compared to parallel preparations. They also demonstrated that the serial use of files in a step-back modality were more effective in producing tapering shapes.

Abou Rass, et al., 1980, also engaged in a discussion of anti-curvature filing to minimize the problems described by Weine. This method, however, advocated the removal of conspicuous amounts of tooth structure from the outer walls of the curve of a root canal system, which arguably, would weaken the outer wall.

In another attempt to maintain the contour of the canal without transporting the apical foramen, Roane, et al., 1985, described a technique for root canal preparation called “balanced force.” The technique was a variation of reaming, which included “back-turning” the file in a counter-clockwise direction. Purportedly the restoring force or elastic memory of the file, as described by Weine, was overcome when pitted against dentinal resistance. However, Blum, Machtou, and others (1997) found that these techniques were a predisposing factor to instrument breakage.

Walia (1988) was the first experimenter to discuss the use of nickel-titanium rotary instruments in endodontics, which has changed the landscape of endodontic cavity preparation immeasurably. The earliest investigators, including Glosson, et al., 1995, and Esposito, et al., 1995, suggested that nickel-titanium rotary instruments were superior to hand instrumentation in maintaining the original anatomy and required fewer instruments. However, Schafer, et al., 1999, found that nickel-titanium instruments with traditional cross sections and sizes left all curved canals poorly cleaned and shaped, whereby tooth structure was removed almost exclusively from the outer wall of the curve. Kum, et al., 2000; Calberson, et al., 2002; and Schafer and Florek (2003) stated that the greatest failing of current NiTi designs is the continued predisposition to torsional and/or cyclic fatigue and breakage.

Nickel-titanium instruments are pre-dominately right-handed cut and with a right-handed helix. Thus, they can act like a screw as they rotate in the canal, pre-disposing them to entrapment or binding, and accompanied by cyclic fatigue and breakage (Scianamblo, 2005, and Yao, 2006).

Numerous investigators have tried to mitigate these problems. The “variable taper” system described by Maillefer (1998) and marketed as ProTaper® was specifically designed to mitigate binding. The variable taper feature has become one of the most widely used systems in the world. Cheung (2005) and Spanaki-Voredi, et al., 2006, however, demonstrated that these instruments were still subject to flexural failure and spontaneous fracture. Remarkably, in examining the earliest designs, many investigators could not find a statistically significant difference between the effectiveness of any one instrument over another (Kum, et al., 2000; Peters, et al., 2001; and Ahlquist, et al., 2001).

Heretofore, all endodontic instruments have a center of rotation and a center of mass that are identical, which dictates a linear trajectory and path of motion. Intuitively, a file design with an axis of rotation, which is coincident with the center of mass, maximizes the restoring force of the file and minimizes flexibility. And files manufactured from nickel-titanium maximizes the restoring force further. The work of Peters, et al., 2001, indicates that this restoring force prevents these instruments from contacting the entire anatomy of the root canal preparation, leaving as much as 35% of the internal anatomy of the canal untouched, and the preparation poorly centered and unclean.

In evaluating these problems, it became clear that a review of Herbert Schilder’s requirements for an ideal endodontic cavity preparation would be necessary to design a new file. Ideally a design that would mimic Schilder’s envelope of motion would mitigate these problems.

Again referring to Figure 1A, it becomes apparent that Schilder’s envelope of motion was created using a unique method of manipulating the root canal file, whereby each pre-curved instrument that revolved within the canal walls could only cut in the greatest portion of the curve. Thus, as each instrument was inserted into deepest portion of the canal, although the rotation was around a central axis, the cutting itself was occurring around a precessional axis.

Figure 1B: A schematic demonstrating the enlargement root canal utilizing pre-curved instruments and employing Schilder’s strategy for creating the envelope of motion. Note that the first instruments are directed to toward the apical segment, while the last instruments are directed toward the orifice of the canal. The confluence of the prepared segments produces the continuously tapering shape characteristic of this technique
Figure 1B: A schematic demonstrating the enlargement root canal utilizing pre-curved instruments and employing Schilder’s strategy for creating the envelope of motion. Note that the first instruments are directed to toward the apical segment, while the last instruments are directed toward the orifice of the canal. The confluence of the prepared segments produces the continuously tapering shape characteristic of this technique

As an example, Figure 1B demonstrates how a series of seven successively larger instruments could be used to expand the cutting envelope, but again notice that cutting is done intermittently and along a precessional axis or via mechanical waves. Our objective, then, was the development of new method of canal enlargement that would mimic this concept.

Figure 2: A schematic demonstrating the orientation of the cutting flutes of Protaper Next. Note the offset rectilinear cross section, which permits intermittent cutting along a precessional axis, much like Schilder’s envelope of motion
Figure 2: A schematic demonstrating the orientation of the cutting flutes of Protaper Next. Note the offset rectilinear cross section, which permits intermittent cutting along a precessional axis, much like Schilder’s envelope of motion

Although this idea was conceptual (Figure 2), the machine tool capabilities of Maillefer Dental Products or Dentsply International (Ballaigues, Switzerland) made this concept a reality. More than a dozen prototypes were engineered and tested over an 8-year period, which led to the development of what was originally called “swaggering files,” now called X-files and embodied in the ProTaper NEXT™ design. In referring to Figure 2, it can seen that the cutting edges of the file are oriented such that they cut in the perimeter of the cutting envelope or precessionally, enabling intermittent cutting. It can also be seen how a design like this might mitigate binding and the predisposition for breakage, while improving hauling or debris removal.

Scianamblo Figure 3
Figure 3: A schematic of the profile and dual axis of Protaper Next. Axis 1 is the central or rotational axis and axis 2 is the cutting or precessional axis. The distance X between the two axes decrease continuously from shank to tip, where the axes meet, leaving the tip completely centered. The offset center of mass, inherent in this design, enables the X-file to cut precessionally. Precession describes a motion whereby a body is spinning; however, the body of the object is spinning about another axis

Performance
ProTaper NEXT was designed to mimic Schilder’s envelope of motion by offsetting a rectilinear cross section, which revolves (6-7 revolutions) around the central axis. These revolutions are also called pitch. In Figure 3, the central or rotational axis of the X-file is shown by Axis 1. Axis 2 follows the center of mass or geometric center of the X-file. The amount of offset between the center of rotation and the center of mass is defined by the distance between these two axes and varies along the length of the file or distance X.

Figure 4: Postoperative radiograph of an upper first bicuspid with three canals. The mesial canals were prepared with files X1 and X2 only. The palatal canal was prepared with X1, X2, and X3. The canals were obturated using Schilder or warm gutta-percha technique (M. Scianamblo, San Rafael, California) Figure 5: A postoperative radiograph of an upper second molar with severely dilacerated canals. The mesial canals were prepared with files X1 and X2 only. The palatal canal was prepared with X1, X2, and X3. The mesial canals were obturated with Thermofil®, and the palatal canal was obturated using an X-3 gutta-percha cone (G. Barboni, Bologna, Italy)
Figure 4: Postoperative radiograph of an upper first bicuspid with three canals. The mesial canals were prepared with files X1 and X2 only. The palatal canal was prepared with X1, X2, and X3. The canals were obturated using Schilder or warm gutta-percha technique (M. Scianamblo, San Rafael, California) Figure 5: A postoperative radiograph of an upper second molar with severely dilacerated canals. The mesial canals were prepared with files X1 and X2 only. The palatal canal was prepared with X1, X2, and X3. The mesial canals were obturated with Thermofil®, and the palatal canal was obturated using an X-3 gutta-percha cone (G. Barboni, Bologna, Italy)
Figure 6: A schematic of the cutting envelope of ProTaper Next. Note that each node or arc traces out a wave of amplitude X. The total distance traveled by any point on the arc, then equals 2X, which defines the cut diameter. Thus, the cutting envelope associated with any node along the instrument’s profile is potentially twice as wide as the instrument itself at that cross section
Figure 6: A schematic of the cutting envelope of ProTaper Next. Note that each node or arc traces out a wave of amplitude X. The total distance traveled by any point on the arc, then equals 2X, which defines the cut diameter. Thus, the cutting envelope associated with any node along the instrument’s profile is potentially twice as wide as the instrument itself at that cross section

 

Figure 7: A schematic of offset rectilinear cross section of ProTaper Next. As can be seen from this figure, only two cutting angles engage the walls of the root canal at any one time. This offset rectilinear cross section not only contributes to the innate flexibility of the file, but also permits intermittent cutting, which mitigates cyclic fatigue. The large clearance angle opposite the cutting flutes facilitate hauling and elimination of debris
Figure 7: A schematic of offset rectilinear cross section of ProTaper Next. As can be seen from this figure, only two cutting angles engage the walls of the root canal at any one time. This offset rectilinear cross section not only contributes to the innate flexibility of the file, but also permits intermittent cutting, which mitigates cyclic fatigue. The large clearance angle opposite the cutting flutes facilitate hauling and elimination of debris

When observed during operation, precession of the X-file gives the appearance of a traveling wave (Scianamblo, 2005, 2006, 2011, and 2015). What is essential to the design of the X-file is that the un-dulating nodes and precessional axis of the X-file circumscribes an envelope of motion similar to Schilder’s pre-curved file (Figure 1A). What is also essential to the design of the X-file is that the offset cross section mitigates the restoring force, similar to Roane’s balanced force technique, which should improve centering. This is dictated by Newton’s laws for the mass moment of inertia and the parallel-axis theorem. Simply stated, the resistance to bending and distortion of a given lamina or cross section can be increased or decreased exponentially, as the distance of the centroid (center of mass) from the central axis is varied. The testing of the X-files has demonstrated that offsetting the center of mass produces not only efficient cutting instruments, but also instruments that remained exceptionally well centered, minimizing transportation (Pasqualini, et al., 2015; Burklein, et al., 2015; Saber, et al., 2015; Zhao, et al., 2104; and Elnaghy, et al., 2014) and corroborated clinically (Figures 4, 5, 8, and 9).

Figure 8: Postoperative radiograph of an upper second molar with four separate canals.The mesial canals were prepared with files X1 and X2 to the apex using X3 and X4 in the upper two-thirds of the canals in a back-stepping modality. The palatal canal was prepared with X1, X2, and X3 to the apex using the X4 and X5 in the upper two-thirds of the canals in a back-stepping modality. The canals were obturated using Schilder technique (R. Rishwain, San Rafael, California) Figure 9: A postoperative radiograph of an upper second bicuspid with severely dilacerated canals and a complex bend. The mesial canal was prepared with files X1 and X2 only. The palatal canal was prepared with X1, X2, and X3. The canals were obturated using Schilder technique (X. Brant, Belo Horizonte, Brazil)
Figure 8: Postoperative radiograph of an upper second molar with four separate canals.The mesial canals were prepared with files X1 and X2 to the apex using X3 and X4 in the upper two-thirds of the canals in a back-stepping modality. The palatal canal was prepared with X1, X2, and X3 to the apex using the X4 and X5 in the upper two-thirds of the canals in a back-stepping modality. The canals were obturated using Schilder technique (R. Rishwain, San Rafael, California)
Figure 9: A postoperative radiograph of an upper second bicuspid with severely dilacerated canals and a complex bend. The mesial canal was prepared with files X1 and X2 only. The palatal canal was prepared with X1, X2, and X3. The canals were obturated using Schilder technique (X. Brant, Belo Horizonte, Brazil)

For further analysis, we will define each arc as a wave of amplitude X as shown in Figure 6. The total distance traveled by any point on the arc can then equal 2X, which defines the cut diameter. Thus, the cutting envelope associated with any node along the instrument’s profile is potentially twice as wide as the instrument at that cross section.

As mentioned, this file design (Figures 2 and 7) features an offset rectilinear cross section. As can be seen from this figure, only two cutting angles engage the walls of the root canal at any one time. This offset rectilinear cross section not only contributes to the innate flexibility of the file, but also permits intermittent cutting, which mitigates cyclic fatigue (Perrez-Higueras, et al., 2014; Nyguen, et al., 2014, and Elnaghy, et al., 2014). In addition, the offset cross section provides larger clearance angles for hauling, which can further enhancing the cutting efficiency and performance, and mitigate the opportunity for apical extrusion of debris (Capar, et al., 2014 and Kocak 2015).

Lastly, the helical architecture of the file would imply that the instruments are compressible. Although these studies are not complete, it has been demonstrated that these instruments impart less internal stress and can minimizing crack formation (Capar, et al., 2014; Arias, et al., 2014; and Berutti, 2014), in addition to cutting more efficiently (Burkelin, et al., 2014, and Pasqualini, et al., 2014).

In light of this current research and reports of clinical success, this offset feature has been incorporated into the next generation of reciprocating files recently introduced as WaveOne® Gold. Continued research will be required to elaborate other advantages of ProTaper Next and similar designs.

Sequence and method of use
Again referring to Figure 3 and as stated previously, the instruments create larger cutting envelopes utilizing smaller cross sections. Thus, canals can be prepared safely with only two or three instruments. The clinical guidelines for use of ProTaper Next instruments was discussed previously by Van der Vyver and Scianamblo (2013 and 2014). In summary, a torque-controlled handpiece should be set at 300 rpms and 2NCm. Use up to 4 NCm may be considered as experience dictates.

The X-file sequence is preceded by creation of a glide path with a No. 10 file, followed by the use of the PathFiles, or similar glide path files, e.g., ProGlider or a number 15-K file. Further enlargement of the upper portion of the canal and removal of restrictive dentin can also be accomplished using the XA orifice opener or use of the X1 in the coronal portion of the canal only.

Once the glide path has been established, the X-File sequence using X-1 and X-2 is carried to the working length using a pull-pull motion allowing the instrument to work without forcible pressure in a continuous push-pull movement. Brushing may also be used to remove restrictive dentin due to the precessional cutting feature of these files. The instruments should be used in the presence of NaOCL and, as with all rotary nickel-titanium instruments, irrigation and recapitulation should follow the use of each instrument.

The narrowest canals can usually be prepared with only the X1 (17/04) and X2 (25/06). Larger canals can be prepared by adding the X3 (30/07). The X4 (40/06) and X5 (50/06) can be used for much larger canals or enlargement vehicles in the upper portion of the canal, if a greater taper is desired. Finally, gauging should be accomplished using the hand file that corresponds to the tip size of each X-file.
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Michael J. Scianamblo, DDS, is an endodontist and the developer of Critical Path Technology. He is a postgraduate and fellow of the Harvard School of Dental Medicine and has served as a faculty member of the University of the Pacific and the University of California, Schools of Dentistry in San Francisco. He has also served as president of the Marin County Dental Society, the Northern California Academy of Endodontists, and the California State Association of Endodontists. He has presented numerous lectures nationally and internationally, and is a recognized author in endodontics, dental materials, and instrumentation. He maintained a private practice in endodontics in San Francisco and Marin County, California, since 1978. His career is currently dedicated to instrument development, and he has been awarded seven U.S. patents and two international patents with several pending.

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