The primary objective of this process is the reduction of bacterial load by mechanically shaping the canal space while concurrently applying antibacterial agents, facilitating the resolution of periradicular inflammation and promoting natural healing responses.
The foundational principles of cleaning and shaping—originally articulated decades ago—continue to underpin this therapeutic approach; yet the tools and techniques available to clinicians have undergone significant evolution.
Over the past thirty years, advances in nickel-titanium (NiTi) instrumentation have revolutionized the biomechanical preparation of root canals.
Contemporary file designs, with refined metallurgical properties and optimized motion dynamics, enable clinicians to negotiate and prepare complex canal anatomies more predictably and with fewer procedural steps than older systems.
These innovations, including reciprocating and rotary engine-driven files, have reduced the number of instruments required while enhancing clinical efficiency and operator confidence.
Nonetheless, while numerous adjunctive strategies aimed at enhancing irrigant efficacy have demonstrated promise in laboratory settings, conclusive evidence for improved clinical outcomes remains limited.
The ongoing challenge in non-surgical endodontics is to translate these technological refinements into measurable improvements in long-term success rates.
This article synthesizes the contemporary biomechanical principles of cleaning and shaping the root canal system—integrating both biological objectives (such as disinfection and prevention of reinfection) and mechanical objectives (including maintenance of canal taper, axis, and foramen integrity)—to provide clinicians with a thorough and practical foundation for modern root canal therapy.
📄 Read the full article in PDF: Non-surgical endodontics: contemporary biomechanical preparation of the root canal system — British Dental Journal, 2025.
