AUTHOR=Kwak Sang Won , Shen Ya , Liu He , Wang Zhejun , Kim Hyeon-Cheol , Haapasalo Markus TITLE=Heat Treatment and Surface Treatment of Nickel–Titanium Endodontic Instruments JOURNAL=Frontiers in Dental Medicine VOLUME=Volume 2 - 2021 YEAR=2021 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/dental-medicine/articles/10.3389/fdmed.2021.769977 DOI=10.3389/fdmed.2021.769977 ISSN=2673-4915 ABSTRACT=Knowledge and thorough understanding of the characteristics of endodontic nickel-titanium (NiTi) files is paramount for dentists performing root canal treatments to patients. Understanding the behaviour of the NiTi files guides the clinicians in choosing correct instruments for different clinical and anatomical situations. This review focuses on the metallurgical properties of endodontic NiTi files, with a special emphasis on recent developments and improvements in metallurgy, effects of heat treatment and surface treatment. The impact that such developments have on the properties of endodontic NiTi files is discussed.