The introduction of nickel-titanium (NiTi) files in endodontics has deeply revolutionized this field. These instruments exhibit relevant advantages compared with the stainless-steel file in terms of flexibility, cutting, and shaping ability. Although the considerable benefits, the principal risk linked with the use of NITi files is an intracanal fracture which can occur due to cyclic and torsional fatigue.
Several properties of NiTi instruments influence their mechanical performance. These properties include but are not limited to file design such as pitch, tip design, taper, and cross-section; kinematics (continuous rotation or reciprocating patterns); metallurgical properties depending on the heat treatment and surface treatment.
To increase the mechanical performance of NiTi files, several innovations have been proposed during the last years, particularly regarding the file design with modified cross-sectional designs, and heat-treatments of NiTi alloy to obtain an instrument in a martensitic phase at intracanal temperature, and kinematics, with innovative patterns of file motion.
The assessment of mechanical properties such as cyclic and torsional fatigue resistance, and shaping ability of the NiTi files with innovative designs and heat treatments or activated by new kinematics is relevant to better understand and predict the clinical performance of these files.
The aim of the present Research Topic is to collect the most recent and novel research regarding current trends in nickel-titanium instruments for endodontic applications.
Areas to be covered in this Research Topic may include, but are not limited to:
- mechanical properties such as cutting efficiency of new files with innovative design;
- assessment of metallurgical behavior of NiTi alloys by relevant and suitable techniques;
- influence of innovative kinematics on cyclic and torsional behavior of NiTi files;
- shaping ability of new NiTi instruments evaluated by micro-CT or other reliable technological tools.
The introduction of nickel-titanium (NiTi) files in endodontics has deeply revolutionized this field. These instruments exhibit relevant advantages compared with the stainless-steel file in terms of flexibility, cutting, and shaping ability. Although the considerable benefits, the principal risk linked with the use of NITi files is an intracanal fracture which can occur due to cyclic and torsional fatigue.
Several properties of NiTi instruments influence their mechanical performance. These properties include but are not limited to file design such as pitch, tip design, taper, and cross-section; kinematics (continuous rotation or reciprocating patterns); metallurgical properties depending on the heat treatment and surface treatment.
To increase the mechanical performance of NiTi files, several innovations have been proposed during the last years, particularly regarding the file design with modified cross-sectional designs, and heat-treatments of NiTi alloy to obtain an instrument in a martensitic phase at intracanal temperature, and kinematics, with innovative patterns of file motion.
The assessment of mechanical properties such as cyclic and torsional fatigue resistance, and shaping ability of the NiTi files with innovative designs and heat treatments or activated by new kinematics is relevant to better understand and predict the clinical performance of these files.
The aim of the present Research Topic is to collect the most recent and novel research regarding current trends in nickel-titanium instruments for endodontic applications.
Areas to be covered in this Research Topic may include, but are not limited to:
- mechanical properties such as cutting efficiency of new files with innovative design;
- assessment of metallurgical behavior of NiTi alloys by relevant and suitable techniques;
- influence of innovative kinematics on cyclic and torsional behavior of NiTi files;
- shaping ability of new NiTi instruments evaluated by micro-CT or other reliable technological tools.
