ProFile - Instruments

The introduction of engine-driven instruments in tapers greater than the

standard 2% taper in 1992 by Dr. Ben Johnson substantially changed the ay root canal
preparation as accomplished. These instruments made it possible to create an appropriately
flared canal shape ithout the need for time-consuming serial step bac! shaping procedures.
"urthermore# the use of the $ro"ile %Dentsply Tulsa Dental# Tulsa# &'# ()*+ instrument
se,uence alloed greater predictability in canal shape alloing earlier and deeper penetration
of irrigating solutions and increased flo dynamics hen using thermoplastici-ed obturation
materials# such as Thermafil %Dentsply Tulsa Dental+.
Profile Family of Endodontic Instruments :
1. Profile 29 Series .otary instruments /./2 #/./0# 1 /./2 taper
2. Profile ISO .otary instruments /./2# /./0 and /./2
3. Profile Orifice Shaper /./4 to /./5 taper.
%6andrel also available for 7and 8nstrumentation +.
These )eries 29 $ro"iles %Dentsply Tulsa Dental+ ere introduced in 1993 ith a ./0
taper# hile instruments ith ./2 taper ere added later. 920:
8nstrument usage and design of the original $ro"ile instruments as a considerable
specification because the tip si-e corresponded to a uniform increase of 29% beteen
instruments and accordingly the nomenclature of each instrument in the series ranged from 2
to 1/. The series also decreased the number of instruments used in canal preparation.
8t is claimed that feer instruments are re,uired to enlarge to master apical file si-e.
Table belo shos the si-e e,uivalents of series 29 instruments compared ith 8)& si-ing.
8n contrast to a 4/% si-e increase beteen 8)& si-e 1/ and si-e 14 and a 33% increase
beteen si-e 14 and si-e 2/# the 29% increment has the advantage of smooth transition
among the smaller si-es.
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)i-e ;,uivalents &f $rofile )eries 29 and )tandard 8so )i-ing
$ro"ile )eries29 si-e 8)& e,uivalent si-e %mm+
2
/.129
3
/.12<
0
/.212
4
/.2<9
2
/.32/
<
/.024
5
/.2//
9
/.<<4
1/
1.///
The use of )eries 29 instruments initially presented some difficulties# ith the non-
standard tip si-e# the change in the file numbering system and the use of metallic colours
designating si-e. These factors produced a system that had a steep learning curve and as such
)eries 29 $ro"iles ere mostly the purvie of specialists.
8n due course# a more traditional 8)& series of $ro"ile instruments ith
conventional si-es as manufactured and mar!eted by Dentsply 6aillefer %Ballaigues#
)it-erland+ along ith a series of &rifice )hapers. The latter instruments are similar to
$ro"ile but# in general# have large tip diameters# shorter cutting blades and greater tapers.
6ore recently# $ro"ile instruments ith a ./2 taper ere introduced to provide a
comprehensive range of tapers that are capable of dealing ith most canals shapes. 9 20# 24:
The introduction of 8)& tip diameters simplified their adoption to a ider range of
general dentists and specialists. *nd the disadvantage ith $rofile 29 series is that there are
feer instruments as the si-e increases thus causing more deformations.922:
Design character of ProFile - instruments 92/#20#24:
The flutes of $ro"ile instruments have radial lands that cut radicular dentine ith a neutral
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ra!e angle %mild negative+# planing the alls smooth and minimi-ing canal transportation.

The cross-section of the instrument is referred to as a (-blade design# and hence has passive
cutting ability.

The $rofile poses a modified tip ithout transition angle. =ith this design the point
e>ercises no cutting action. 8t functions only as a guide# alloing easy penetration ith only a
minimum of apical pressure. The ris! of ?amming or deviation from the canal path is
removed# and each $rofile instrument can be used to the full or!ing length# ith no
modification to the original position of the foramen. * tip ith no sharp transitional line
angle further enables the instrument to remain centred around canal curvature virtually
eliminating ledge formation.
0<
The flutes are cut deep into the core from tip to shan! alloing greater fle>ibility at
larger cross-sectional diameters# hile alloing larger amounts of debris to be removed.
Profile Series Of Instruments has Following Advantages
! "aria#le $aper: The taper of $rofile instruments may vary beteen 0% and 5%. This
much steeper than the conventional 8)& angle %2%+.The steeper angle of $rofile@
instruments brings the folloing advantagesA 925# :
;ffective shaping and cleaning# due to good cutting contact.
*mple irrigation# due to deep penetration of the syringe into the canal# and the
creation of a sufficiently ide fla channel for constant reneal of the solution.
Dense# three-dimensional compacting of the gutta percha.
The pronounced taper of $ro"ile instruments means that the area of contact ith the canal
alls is small# and therefore the contact pressure is high. This gives the instrument greater
cutting effectiveness. 8n addition# the e>treme point of the instrument remains free# alloing
it to function as a guide.

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GOLDEN KEYS
1. &nly a light pressure is needed - no heavier titan hen riting ith a pencil. $rofile
instruments# particularly the smaller si-es# should never be forced into the canal# otherise
Bind upB may occur# possibly to the point of brea!age.
2. 8n and out movementA the high fre,uency bending caused by high-speed rotation in curved
root canals leads to fatigue of the nic!el-titanium alloy used. The bending is greatest here
canal is most sharply curved %small apical hoo!s+# but the fatigue effect can be distributed
along the length of the instrument by applying a slight in and out movement %2 to 3 mm+
hile or!ing. ;ach instrument is used in the root canal for a period of only about 4 to 1/
seconds.
MOTOR AND SPEEDS:
"or best performance and to avoid any ris! of brea!age# $rofile instruments should be
used at a constant# stable speed beteen 14/ and 34/ r.p.m. "or this it is possible to use an
independent electric motor. These motors can be set very precisely to a specified speed. They
supply high tor,ue.
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$rofile instruments may also be used directly on the dental chair unit ith a high gear
reduction rate contraangle. ;>amples A ith an electrical drive %0/=& r.p.m.+ a speed of
about 3// r.p.m. can be obtained ith a 12/A1 to 14/A1 contraangleC ith an air turbine
%2/D/// r.p.m.+ a suitable speed can be obtained ith a 2/A1 to </A1 contraangle.
I.S.O ProFile Available as :

I.S.O ProFile Ora!i"er
4/

O#era$io!al Se%&e!'e:
The operational se,uence described here is for the great ma?ority of cases %molars#
upper ma>illary premolars# loer incisors+. 7oever# it must be remembered that since
each case is different# this se,uence ill probably re,uire slight modification# according
to the specific root canal anatomy.
The operational se,uence comprises four phases A
1. Eron-don .
2. Determination of the or!ing length
3. *pical preparation
0. "inal shaping
(. %rown Down :
*n estimate of the provisional or!ing length is made on the basis of the pre-
operative F-ray. This is necessarily an appro>imate figure# for e>ample beteen 21 and
20 mm.
The first ob?ective of the cron don phase is to open up the root canal as far as
the minimum estimated or!ing length less 3 mm %e>ample A 21 mm -3 mm G 15 mm+C
the first depth mar! ring on $rofile instruments is located at 15 mm. The or!ing length
should be determinedC then the cron don ill be continued as far as the ape>.
HatesIHlidden drills ere supplemented or replaced ith $ro"ile &rifice
)hapers. &rifice )hapers share the same (-blade design permitting straight-line access to
the coronal and middle thirds ithout encroaching on the so-called danger -one# hich
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may occur ith Hates I Hlidden drills. The use of viscous chelating agents and &rifice
)hapers can effectively e>tirpate the vital pulp from the canal.
$rofile &.). J3 %./2K0/+
The $rofile@ J3 &.). is the first instrument in the se,uence. *s it is relatively
short this instrument can easily be inserted in line ith the root canal# ithout hindrance
from the opposing teeth. =ith the J3 &.). already rotating# insert it ithout e>cessive
pressure and apply a slight in and out movement# for about 4 to 1/ seconds. Do not
thin! about the or!ing length at this stageC simply allo the instrument to guide itself
along the canal. =hen progression becomes difficult# do not increase the pressure# ?ust
ithdra the instrument and go on to the ne>t.
$rofile &.). J2 %./2K3/+
8t is no the turn of the J2 &.). since this is of a smaller diameter# it can or!
more apically.
*s before# hen progression becomes difficult# ithdra the instrument ithout
increasing the pressure and go on to the ne>t.
$rofile ./2K24
7as a smaller diameter than the previously used instruments# and is more fle>ible
due to the greater length of its cutting section. (se this instrument in the same ay as
the preceding ones.
$rofile ./2K2/
8nstrument penetrates more apically than the preceding one. (se it in the same
ay as before.
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$rofile ./0K24
)ince this instrument has a less pronounced taper# it also penetrates more
apically than the preceding one. (se it in the same ay as before# ithdraing as soon
as progression becomes difficult.
$rofile ./0K2/
Eontinue operations ith this instrument up until the e>act or!ing length. This
or!ing length is determined as described belo.
De$er)i!a$io! o* $+e ,or-i! Le!$+ %;>ample A 22#4 mm+ A
The e>act or!ing length is determined during the cron-don phase# by
inserting a conventional 1/ or 14 '-file %2% taper+. This '-"ile. is used after the first
$rofile@ has reached the minimum estimated or!ing length less 3 mm %e>ample A 21-3
mm G 15 mm+.
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Because the '-file is completely free along practically the hole length of the root
canal# it can penetrate easily up until the ape>. 8ts only function is that of a depth
gauge# alloing the e>act or!ing length to be determined ith the help of an F-ray .
=hen the e>act or!ing length is !non# complete he cron don procedure up until
this e>act length. *n ape> locator can also be used to complete the cron-don
procedure to the e>act or!ing length.
A#i'al Pre#ara$io! &# &!$il $+e e.a'$ /or-i! le!$+ A
$rofile ./0K2/
$rofile ./0K24 ... %or a larger-diameter+
/0 type $rofile if necessary# according to the anatomy of the tooth.
Eron-don as far as the e>act or!ing length is no complete. The profile
ith 0% taper are no used# this time from the smallest to the largestC first the ./0K2/
$rofile# then the ./0K24 $rofile# each instrument up until the e>act or!ing length.
8f necessitated by the particular anatomy# use increasingly large $rofile
instruments %./0K3/# ./0K34# etc+ each up until the e>act or!ing length .
Fi!al *lari!:
/2K2/ $rofile or larger if necessary according to the anatomy of the canal. "inal
flaring may he achieved by means of the $rofile ./2. =ith the $ro file ./2 rotating# insert
it into the root canal ithout forcing# and during its progression apply a slight in and out
movement. $enetration to the e>act or!ing length is not systematically sought# e>cept
if the root canal easily receives the ./2 $rofile
Summari&e : $rofile instruments are used in both descending order of diameter %for
cron-don# from the largest to the smallest+ and in ascending order of diameter %for
preparation to the e>act or!ing length and for final flaring# from the smallest to the
largest+.
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Irria$io!:
"or particularly difficult root canals in the early preparatory stages a lubricant
may be used.
*ll through the entire se,uence of operations irrigate fre,uently and abundantly
ith a syringe using a 2# 4% solution of sodium 7ypochlorite %La&El+
8n the apical preparation and the final shaping stages La&El and ;DT* may be
used alternately.
"inal cleaning and sterili-ing and evacuation of dentine debris can be done by
using a J14 ;ndo sonic file ith abundant La&El irrigation.

OT0ER SE12EN3E : [24]
&ne se,uence for preparation of medium and large canals is shon in the concept bo> in
Table .
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*s stated earlier# alternative se,uences are possible and have been advocated#
including the use of a single taper throughout# varying only the tip diameter# and using
the same tip diameter but alternating the taper. 8n particular the use of the five
instruments ith ./2 tapers# ranging from /.0 to /.14 mm tip diameter# is a rapid ay to
shape larger and rather straight canals. 8n summary# $ro"ile instruments ith the
possibility of variation in se,uences allos for variations in apical anatomy# ith the tip
si-e chosen according to the si-e at the terminus.
$he 'old standard 920:
The $ro"ile series has been the most idely researched nic!elItitanium rotary
instrument in endodontics over the last 1/ years establishing it as the gold standard
against hich others are measured. 8ntroduction of these rotary instruments has enabled
practitioners to provide a more predictable level of care to patients in a more timely and
reproducible manner and has caused a paradigm shift in the ay endodontic treatment is
accomplished and has raised the standard of care.
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