DENTSPLY Tulsa Dental, the company long associated with endodontic innovation, announces the introduction of its ProTaper Universal nickel titanium rotary instruments, matching obturators and system components – the newest addition of patented products and techniques designed to make endodontic therapy more efficient and effective.
Tulsa Dental’s original ProTaper rotary files were introduced in North America in 2001 and developed by leading endodontists Dr. Pierre Machtou, Dr. Clifford Ruddle, Dr. John West and Dr. Ben Johnson.
“The instruments are widely accepted by clinicians worldwide for their cutting efficiency, flexibility and the predictable tapered canal shapes they create,” said product manager Bobby Morrow. “The new ProTaper Universal system, featuring the next generation in Tulsa Dental’s rotary file legacy, will deliver even more precision, flexibility and efficiency to root canal instrumentation.”
“We recognized an opportunity to improve the performance of our existing ProTaper instruments and expand the line to treat a wider range of cases,” said Morrow. “Clinicians looking for strong nickel titanium instruments that cut efficiently, are flexible and stay centered in the canal will be impressed with these new files.”
The ProTaper Universal product line has been segmented into three categories, Treatment, Retreatment and Obturation. Each product works together to intuitively generate a seamless flow from instrumentation to obturation.
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Treatment products include ProTaper Universal rotary treatment shaping and finishing files. The shaping files pre-enlarge and shape the coronal two-thirds of the canal. The multiple tapers ensure flexibility and cut dentin in specific canal zones. When used in a brushing action, they create lateral space, and the files’ strong and efficient blades passively move deeper into the canal.
The finishing files produce the final deep shape in the apical third of the canal and the correct apical fit for the matching ProTaper Universal obturators or master cones. They have been enhanced with a more rounded tip for efficiency and greater safety. Each finishing file features a decreasing rate of taper that enhances flexibility, reduces the possibility of over-preparing the coronal two-thirds of a canal and reduces the potential for taper lock. Additional F4 and F5 finishing files deliver more versatility and flexibility in the canal’s apical third.
Available for those cases that require hand instrumentation, ProTaper Universal hand files mirror the rotary files and feature the same design enhancements. New color-coded silicone handles have been added for improved comfort and tactile sensation with less hand fatigue. Other ProTaper Universal treatment products include a ProTaper Universal file stand and absorbent points.
The ProTaper Universal Retreatment product line features a set of nickel titanium retreatment files designed for the sequential removal of obturation materials such as gutta-percha, carrier-based obturators or paste fillers from the coronal, middle and apical thirds of the canal. Three easily identified lengths, tapers and diameters are available and work in sequence through the entire canal.
ProTaper Universal obturators are the centerpiece of the system’s Obturation category. They precisely match the shapes created by ProTaper Universal treatment files. Their thermoplasticized gutta-percha flows from the orifice to the canal terminus to produce a three-dimensional fill in less time than traditional obturation methods. The obturator oven and matching gutta-percha points round out the line of obturation products.
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All ProTaper Universal products are available immediately from DENTSPLY Tulsa Dental. For more information or to place an order, call 1-800-662-1202 or visit www.tulsadental.dentsply.com.