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Endodontic is one of the most prestigious aspect of dentistry. It deals with conservation of compromised and diseased tooth from causing continuous pain and discomfort to a patient and also from being extracted.

One of the sub-topic under Endodontic is Root Canal Treatment (or Therapy) which requires the use of a larger part of Endodontic Instruments during clinical procedure.

Therefore, it is very necessary for every dental student and dentists in general to know these instruments, uses, designing materials and cross-sectional outlook, their numerical standardisation( in case of files), their classification and their management for achieving long term use and so on as regards these valuable dental instruments.

Now, let's discuss on how Endodontic treatment are classified especially the ones involved in Root Canal Treatment

According to Grossman; there are divided into four classes as follows:

1- Exploring instruments (Pathfinders)
2- Debriding instruments
3- Cleaning and Shaping instruments
4- Obturating instruments

1- EXPLORING INSTRUMENTS (Pathfinders)

They are used to locate the canal orifice(opening) and determine patency of the root canal. E.g. endodontic explorers, smooth broaches (pathfinders).

2- DEBRIDING INSTRUMENTS:

They are used to extirpate(remove) the pulp( could be inflamed pulp) and remove any foreign debris. E.g. barbed broach

3- CLEANING AND SHAPING INSTRUMENTS:

They are used in cleaning and maintaining the normal shape of the root canal both laterally and apically and to make it free of bacteria and pulp remnants e.g. reamers and file

4- OBTURATING INSTRUMENTS: (Fillers)

They to cement and pack gutta-percha and other filling materials into the root. The obturators serves as a replacement for the removed pulp tissues. E.g. spreaders, pluggers, lentulospirals, heat carriers, condensers, compactors and others.

This is all about this post at least for now. The clinical classification would be touched in the coming post which is also divided into four groups with slight difference just stay tuned.

Thanks for your usual following up of my posts and Keep Blurting and you will reach beyond the sky.
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