Patent ID: 6379155
Filing Date: 2002-04-30
Classification: A61C

Abstract:
A method for anatomical cleaning of the operative coronal portion and the operative middle portion of an operative root canal in a tooth in preparation for cleaning the apical root portion of the operative root canal, 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 at least one endodontic instrument having a file with an abrading portion for removing pulp material, the file having a length corresponding to at least the combined length of the operative coronal portiona and the operative middle portion; positioning a stop on the file of the endodontic instrument to limit the file to insertion into the operative coronal portion and the operative middle portion; and removing and cleaning essentially all pulp material from the operative coronal portion and the operative middle portion by flexing the file to urge the abrading portion of the instrument against root canal surfaces within the operative middle portion as the 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 the instrument, and without significantly extending the file of the instrument into the apical root portion.