The Style Italiano Endodontics Philosophy in Practice

Fig. 1

This is an example of a successful endodontic treatment, performed 30 years ago.

Fig. 2

Hours of work, with almost cylindrical, stainess-steel hand instruments, were necessary to conically shape the root canals, allowing irrigants to reach the bacterial flora, and thus reducing it to a level that would be compatible with periapical health. It still works.

Fig. 3

A contemporary endodontic treatment. Shaping has been performed with rotary instruments, at 300 rpm. This probably means that 30 seconds of mechanical shaping equals 150 manual strokes with hand files. Treatment time has been reduced dramatically, along with the efforts required.

Fig. 4

Another contemporary endodontic treatment, performed by a colleague. A curvature has been correctly followed with a #25 reciprocating file, but something went wrong, and the patient still complains of pain upon biting.

Fig. 5

What went wrong were diameter determination and taper. This root canal was much wider than #25. A #40 instrument was needed to properly clean the apex, and to allow space for irrigants. But the curvature needs to be respected, so we need exceptional instruments, made with the new alloys that give us great flexibility even at wide diameters.

Fig. 6

A wide endodontic lesion often means a huge bacterial load. Thorough shaping is needed, up to wide diameteters and greater tapers.

Fig. 7

The task is accomplished with larger instruments, still flexible thanks to their metallurgy.

Fig. 8

Metallurgic properties of endodontic instruments are continuously improving. A new glide path instrument can follow abrupt curvatures.

Fig. 9

Older alloys cannot perform these tasks so easily, and need much more attention.

Fig. 10