Abstract

Endodontic treatment is a predictable procedure with high success rates: shaping plays a very important role in the outcome of the therapy.During the shaping, the original anatomy respect allows preparing the canal saving radicular dentine, creating an ideal shape for a deep cleaning and a three-dimensional obturation. The execution of shapes that fit and meet the original anatomy decreases the risk of creating alterations of the root canal itself, such as ledges or transport, regarded by the international scientific literature as factors leading to the failure of the therapy. The respectful shaping of the root canal system is achievable using a proper shaping technique and getting the benefits of the evolution of the rotary file systems: thanks to the heat treatment of the rotary files, a totally mechanical shaping can be safely performed by the clinician, getting high quality and original anatomy respectful shaping, even in complex anatomies and even using a reduced number of instruments. The creation of a ledge during the shaping is the most common iatrogenic damage to the endodontic anatomy and it can be created by manual and rotary files. Once created, its management is crucial to complete the shaping the cleaning and the obturation at the proper working length to not decrease the outcome of the treatment. Aim of the lecture is to focus first the attention on the proper use of the rotary files in order to get a shaping respectful of the original endodontic anatomy, sharing protocols and tips to manage complex anatomies in the daily practice; the second part of the lecture focus on the ledge management, showing tips to ease the re-negotiation of the canal up to the working length.Aim of the lecture is to highlight how the knowledge of the shaping techniques are more important than the rotary files, sharing protocols and tips to manage even iatrogenic mishapes once created.