Continuing Education

Volume 33 No. 7 Page 118

Endodontic Canal
Preparation:
Innovations in Glide Path Management
and Shaping Canals
Authored by Clifford J. Ruddle, DDS; Pierre Machtou, DDS, MS, PhD;
and John D. West, DDS, MSD
Upon successful completion of this CE activity 2 CE credit hours will be awarded

Opinions expressed by CE authors are their own and may not reflect those of Dentistry Today. Mention of
specific product names does not infer endorsement by Dentistry Today. Information contained in CE articles and
courses is not a substitute for sound clinical judgment and accepted standards of care. Participants are urged to
contact their state dental boards for continuing education requirements.

Continuing Education

Endodontic Canal Preparation:

peer-reviewed journals. He can be reached via e-mail at

prpierre.machtou@gmail.com.

Innovations in Glide Path Management

and Shaping Canals
Effective Date: 7/1/2014

Disclosure: Dr. Machtou has a consultant agreement with

DENTSPLY Maillefer.

Expiration Date: 7/1/2017

Dr. West is founder and director of the Center for

Endodontics in Tacoma, Wash. He
graduated from the University of
Washington Dental School and received
his MS degree and endodontic certificate
at Boston University, where he was
awarded the Alumni of the Year Award.
Dr. West is an educator and clinician, and his focus
is interdisciplinary endodontics. He has authored several
textbook chapters and is an editorial board member
for the Journal of Esthetic and Restorative Dentistry,
Practical Procedures in Aesthetic Dentistry, and the
Journal of Microscope Enhanced Dentistry. He can be
reached via e-mail at johnwest@centerforendodontics.com,
at (800) 900-7668,or visit the Web site located at
centerforendodontics.com.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Dr. Ruddle is founder and director of Advanced Endodontics, an international
educational source, in Santa Barbara,
Calif. He is an assistant professor of
graduate endodontics at Loma Linda
University and University of California, Los
Angeles, is an associate clinical professor at University of
California, San Francisco, and is an adjunct assistant
professor of endodontics at University of the Pacific, School of
Dentistry. As an inventor, Dr. Ruddle has designed and
developed several instruments and devices that are widely
used internationally. He is well known for providing superb
endodontic education through his lectures, clinical articles,
training manuals, videos and DVDs. Additionally, he maintains
a private practice in Santa Barbara. He can be reached at
(800) 753-3636 or via the Web site endoruddle.com.

Disclosure: Dr. West is the co-inventor of ProTaper,

WaveOne, and Calamus technologies, in addition to ProGlider
(DENTSPLY Tulsa Dental Specialties).

Disclosure: Dr. Ruddle has a financial interest in products on

which he collaborates, which includes ProGlider and the
ProTaper systems (DENTSPLY Tulsa Dental Specialties).

INTRODUCTION
It is generally recognized that root canals can be
predictably prepared when shaping files have a
reproducible and sufficiently sized pathway to follow. The
secret to shaping success is glide path management
(GPM), which may be thought of as procedures directed
toward securing canals. Any portion of any canal is termed
secured when a small-sized flexible hand file can
reproducibly slip, slide, and glide through a catheterized
canal.1 Similar to a cardiac surgeon performing coronary
angioplasty, dentists insert and slide a small-sized, flexible
file through the length of a root canal to verify a smooth
reproducible pathway exists for shaping files to follow.
There are a series of clinical procedural steps that
comprise start-to-finish endodontic treatment. GPM is
arguably the single most consequential clinical step that

Dr. Machtou graduated in 1967 from

Paris 7-Denis Diderot University. He
completed his studies and became a full
professor in 1997. Dr. Machtou is the past
scientific director and general secretary of
the French Endodontic Society. He is a
member of numerous national and international endodontic
and dental associations. In 2006, he was the recipient of
the Pierre Fauchards Elmer S. Best Memorial Award. Dr.
Machtou continues to lecture extensively in many countries
and venues worldwide. He is the sole endodontic author of
2 textbooks, co-editor of another textbook, and has additionally
written 9 endodontic book chapters and 70 articles in
1

Continuing Education

Endodontic Canal Preparation: Innovations in Glide Path Management and Shaping Canals
serves to influence the successful fulfillment of the
mechanical and biological goals for shaping canals.2 Wellshaped canals hold an effective reservoir of irrigant that,
upon activation, can penetrate, circulate, and clean into
the uninstrumentable portions of a root canal system.
More than 40 years of rigorous scientific and clinical
evidence unmistakably substantiates that canals must be
well shaped in order to promote 3-D disinfection and filling
root canal systems (Figures 1 and 2).3
Negotiating and securing canals with small-sized
hand files requires a mechanical strategy, a skillful
touch, patience, and desire.4 Once the canal can be
manually reproduced, a dedicated mechanical glide
path file may be used to expand the working width and
pre-shape a canal in preparation for shaping
procedures. This article will identify innovative and
clinically relevant technologies for GPM and shaping
canals. The technologies utilized to accomplish these
procedures should balance the biological and
mechanical goals of endodontics with a respect for the
concept of minimally invasive endodontics (MIE).

Figure 1. Left: A CT image of a mandibular bicuspid (courtesy of Dr. Frank

Paque, Zurich, Switzerland). Right: A post-treatment film demonstrates that a
well-shaped canal promotes 3-D cleaning and filling root canal systems.

Glide Path Management

The ultimate trifecta for GPM is to fully negotiate, catheterize,
and manually secure any given canal to its terminus. A size
10 stainless steel (SS) hand file is typically selected to
anatomically follow either a partial length or the full length of
any given canal. Although a size 10 file at length is a good
start, the international protocol for GPM is to further expand
this pathway so that the terminus of any given canal is
confirmed to be equivalent to at least 0.15 mm. Generally,
when a size 15 hand file is at length, sufficient space exists
to safely accommodate the tip of the first mechanically
Figure 2. Left: A CT image of a maxillary molar (courtesy of Dr. Frank Paque,
driven (reciprocating or rotary) shaping file.5
Zurich, Switzerland). Right: This film demonstrates challenging endodontic
Many gifted clinicians work a size 10 hand file at anatomy and the clinical importance of treating root canal systems.
length until it is super loose. A super loose size 10 file
canals become iatrogenically blocked, ledged, perforated,
eliminates utilizing a considerably stiffer, significantly larger,
or apically transported when using a size 15 SS hand file.
and substantially more dangerous size 15 SS file. This
The problems commonly associated with using a size 15
strategy is particularly important when securing more
SS file start with failure to carry the size 10 hand file to the
anatomically complex canals that are longer, narrower, and
terminus of a canal, failure to confirm patency, and failure to
more curved. Appreciate that the size 15 SS file is 50%
work the size 10 file until it is super loose. The deficiencies of
larger in diameter at D0 than the size 10 file. Because of
the size 15 SS file are further exacerbated by using this file in
this large D0 discrepancy, many partially or fully negotiated
a dangerous inward cutting motion. Fortuitously, a size 15 SS
2

Continuing Education

Endodontic Canal Preparation: Innovations in Glide Path Management and Shaping Canals
a

Figure 3a. ProGliders progressively tapered design and M-Wire

technology make glide path management (GPM) safe, efficient,
and fun.

hand file can be eliminated and replaced with

a significantly more flexible, dedicated Ni-Ti
mechanical glide path file. It has been shown
that certain mechanical glide path files more
predictably follow a previously secured canal
compared to utilizing a manual size 15 SS
hand file.6
A dedicated mechanical glide path file
may be used to expand or pre-shape any
given canal prior to utilizing greater tip
diameter and tapered shaping files.
Fortuitously, dedicated mechanical glide
path files have been shown to significantly
reduce procedural chairtime while
decreasing postoperative pain and
flareups.7 Pre-shaping secured canals with
dedicated mechanical glide path files
improves the safety and efficiency of all
brand lines of shaping files that have
considerably larger D0 diameters and
tapers along their active portions.

Figure 3b. This table compares the cross-sectional diameters along

the active portion of 3 files. One ProGlider can safely produce a
considerably larger pre-shaped canal than a size 15 SS hand file.

Figure 4a. This radiographic image reveals

an endodontically involved posterior bridge
abutment. Note the orientation of the
prosthesis to the underlying roots.

Figure 4b. A working image reveals coronal

disassembly, isolation, and size 10 files
traversing through pre-enlarged canals
exhibiting multiplanar recurvatures.

Figure 4c. This video image shows the

ProGlider following the manually secured
MB canal and approaching length.

Dedicated Glide Path Files

During the past 5 years, industry has responded and
produced a variety of dedicated mechanical glide path files.
DENTSPLY, Micro-Mega, J. Morita, FKG Dentaire,
CLINICIANS CHOICE, and SS White are examples of

Figure 4d. This radiographic image demonstrates provisionalization, flowing shapes, and
filled multiple portals of exit.

companies that distribute dedicated glide path files.

Certainly, DENTSPLYs PathFile series has generated, by
far, the most published scientific evidence supporting its
use.8 However, all the companies listed above provide
3

Continuing Education

Endodontic Canal Preparation: Innovations in Glide Path Management and Shaping Canals
a

Figure 5. A pretreatment image shows an

endodontically involved maxillary bicuspid. The
working film shows ProGliders following apical
curvatures and at length. The
post-treatment image demonstrates that
pre-shaped canals guide the case to
successful conclusion. (Courtesy of Dr. Filippo
Santarcangelo, Bari, Italy.)

Figures 6a and 6b. (a) This working film demonstrates ProGliders safely following and preshaping significant apical canal curvatures. (b) This post-treatment film demonstrates that an
expanded glide path enables larger-sized shaping files to precisely follow these canal
curvatures. (Courtesy of Dr. Giuseppe Cantatore, Rome, Italy.)

either a 2- or 3-file sequence, in which each file has a

traditional, fixed tapered design over the length of its active
portion. In general, fixed tapered files require a multifile
sequence to promote safety.

over the active portion of a single file reduces the potential

for the dangerous screw effect.
The ProGlider file has a diameter of 0.16 mm at D0 and
0.82 mm at D16. Alternatively, fixed tapered dedicated glide
path files generally have D0 tip diameters of 0.13 mm, 0.15
mm, 0.17 mm, or 0.19 mm and D16 diameters of 0.45 mm,
0.47 mm, 0.49 mm, and 0.51 mm, respectively. To mitigate the
D0 percentage change between a size 10 file and ProGlider,
gently slide the size 10 file to and minutely through the
terminus of a canal and confirm patency. An ultrashort vertical
motion is repeatedly used at length until this file is super loose.
ProGlider may be used in virtually any secured canal at a
speed of 300 rpm and a torque of 4.0 to 5.2 Ncm.
When clinically using a ProGlider, never push, peck, or
force this file inward. Rather, let the ProGlider passively and
progressively advance along the secured portion of a canal.
If the ProGlider ceases to easily advance inward, remove
the file and irrigate with sodium hypochlorite, recapitulate
with a size 10 file to move debris into solution and reconfirm
the glide path, then re-irrigate to liberate this loose debris.
In longer, narrower, and more curved canals, it may require
one or more passes for the ProGlider to safely follow the
glide path, reach length, and pre-shape any given canal
(Figure 6). With a pre-shaped canal, lets look at a new
innovation in shaping canals.

Glide Path Management Breakthrough

Years of research and development have resulted in the
recent international launch of a dedicated, single-use rotary
glide path file, named ProGlider (DENTSPLY Tulsa Dental
Specialties [DTDS] and DENTSPLY Maillefer) (Figure 3).
ProGlider brings what could be characterized as good news
and better news. The good news is that ProGlider is one
single mechanical glide path file. The better news is that one
ProGlider will create a significantly larger, smoothly tapered
pathway than any other dedicated multifile sequence. In
general, any given canal is first manually reproduced and
secured with a size 10 hand file before using any dedicated
mechanical glide path file(s) (Figure 4).
Ni-Ti may be metallurgically enhanced through heat
treatment pre- or post-machining. Heat treatment before
machining results in what is commercially termed M-Wire.
M-Wire has been shown to significantly improve flexibility
and provide a 400% greater resistance to cyclic fatigue.9
ProGlider utilizes M-Wire technology and has increasing
tapers from 2% to more than 8% along its active portion.
These design features result in a file that safely preenlarges the glide path in a controlled, smooth, inward
cutting action (Figure 5). A progressively tapered design

Shaping Canals
The necessity for shaping canals has long been recognized
4

Continuing Education

Endodontic Canal Preparation: Innovations in Glide Path Management and Shaping Canals
as an essential step in endodontic treatment. In 1974,
Professor Herbert Schilder precisely described the
mechanical objectives for shaping canals that, when fulfilled,
would ensure the biological goals for long-term success.10
Based on the current state of endodontic development, we
only shape canals in order to 3-D clean and fill root canal
systems. Recently, there has been renewed interest in the
concept of MIE. Yet, virtually no evidence exists to validate
that minimally prepared canals and related root canal
systems can actually be 3-D cleaned or filled.11
In 2001, the ProTaper Ni-Ti rotary file system (DTDS
and DENTSPLY Maillefer) came to market utilizing a
progressively tapered design on a single file.12 Unlike fixed
tapered shaping systems, the ProTaper system
strategically allows clinicians to increase the terminal
diameter of a canal and expand the deep shape without
further enlarging the body of the canal.5 ProTapers
success is dominantly linked to reproducible final shapes in
all situations, which, in turn, has led to this system
becoming the No. 1 selling file in the world, the No. 1 file
choice of endodontists, and the No. 1 system taught in
international dental schools to undergraduate students.13
Lets review the ProTaper success story.

Figure 7. The S1
and S2 files have
a progressively
increasing
percentage
tapered design
over their active
portions. The S1
dominantly
prepares the
coronal one-third,
whereas the S2
prepares the
middle one-third
of a canal.

Figure 8a. The

Sx is used in a
brushing motion
to cut dentin,
between D6 and
D9, on the
outstroke.

Figure 8b. The

Sx may be used
to safely relocate
canals away from
external root
concavities,
resulting in more
centered
preparations.

ProTaper Geometries
In the ProTaper Universal (PTU) system, there are 2 Shaping
files and one Auxiliary Shaping file. Shaping File No. 1 and
Shaping File No. 2, termed S1 and S2, have D0 diameters of
0.17 mm and 0.20 mm, respectively, modified guiding tips, and
9 and 12 increasing percentage tapers over their active
portions, respectively (Figure 7). As a result of this design, the
S1 file primarily prepares the coronal one-third, whereas the
S2 file dominantly prepares the middle one-third of a canal.
The S1 and S2 files only minimally enlarge the apical one-third
of any given canal.
The Auxiliary Shaping file, termed Sx, has an overall length
of 19 mm and provides excellent access when interocclusal
space is limited. The Sx file is 0.19 mm at D0 and has
diameters of about 0.5 mm, 0.7 mm, 0.9 mm, and 1.1 mm at
D6, D7, D8, and D9, respectively (Figure 8a). When there is
sufficient working width, the Sx file is used to brush and cut
dentin on the outstroke. The Sx file is an industry leader for
gaining radicular access. Specifically, the Sx may be utilized to

Figure 9. The
ProTaper
Universal (PTU)
Finishing files can
increase the
terminal canal
diameter and
expand the deep
shape without
further preparing
the coronal twothirds of a canal.

eliminate triangles of dentin, intentionally relocate the coronalmost aspect of a canal away from furcal danger, or to produce
more shape, as desired (Figure 8b).
5

Continuing Education

Endodontic Canal Preparation: Innovations in Glide Path Management and Shaping Canals

Figure 10. The canals of this maxillary

molar were prepared with PTU files. Note
that these files precisely follow significant
mid-root and apical curvatures. (Courtesy of
Dr. John West, Tacoma, Washington.)

Figure 12. This post-treatment result

demonstrates 4 exquisitely shaped systems
utilizing PTG. (Courtesy of Dr. Jordan West,
Tacoma, Wash.)

Figure 11. ProTaper Gold (PTG) has been shown to significantly increase flexibility and
provide more than twice the resistance to cyclic fatigue compared to PTU (internal
DENTSPLY testing; data on file).

Figure 13. PTG was used to prepare these

flowing tapered shapes, encouraging 3-D
cleaning and filling root canal systems.
(Courtesy of Dr. Jason West, Tacoma, Wash.)

Five PTU Finishing files, named F1, F2, F3, F4, and F5,
have D0 diameters of 0.20, 0.25, 0.30, 0.40, and 0.50 mm,
respectively (Figure 9). Between D1 and D3, the most
commonly used Finishersnamely the F1, F2 and F3have
fixed tapers of 7%, 8%, and 9%, respectively. Strategically, from
D4 to D16, each file has a decreasing percentage tapered
design. This means F1, F2, and F3 files have a maximum flute
diameter at D16 of about 1.0 mm versus 1.32 mm, 1.53 mm,
and 1.74 mm, respectively, if each file had a fixed taper over its
active portion. This design occurred more than 10 years before
the concept of MIE was first reported.
PTU was the first file line to offer both Shaping and
Finishing files. Together, they produce a smoothly tapered and
well-shaped canal while using an economy of files. Importantly,
these shapes have been repeatedly shown to promote 3-D
disinfection and filling root canal systems, while maximizing

Figure 14. PTG files have the flexibility and

resistance to cyclic fatigue to safely follow
and shape complex curvatures. (Courtesy
of Dr. Jacob Amor, Paris, France.)

remaining dentin in the coronal two-thirds of any given canal

(Figure 10). Yet, with this success story, PTU has not truly
changed since R&D began in 1995 and the system was
launched in 2001. After more than 12 years, it became time to
take advantage of technological advancements in metallurgy
that did not exist in earlier years.
ProTaper Gold
Improvements in Ni-Ti metallurgy have been a hallmark in
improving both flexibility and the resistance to cyclic fatigue.
Through heating and cooling cycles, the desired phasetransition point between martensite and austenite can be
identified to produce a more clinically optimal metal than Ni-Ti
itself. DENTSPLY International was the first manufacturer to
make heat treatment technology available on their
mechanical files.9 In order of market launch progression,

Continuing Education

Endodontic Canal Preparation: Innovations in Glide Path Management and Shaping Canals
DTDS first released file brands using M-Wire, then Blue
Wire,14 and now Gold Wire. Gold Wire technology is a postmachining process that makes files significantly more
flexible and resistant to fracture.
After years of testing all the available metallurgically
enhanced technologies, PTU evolved, has been validated in
Gold Wire, and is termed ProTaper Gold (PTG) (Figure 11). Of
clinical significance, PTG has the exact same geometries as
PTU, which will continue to be available. The PTG Finishing
files set a new standard in safety by significantly improving
flexibility and the resistance to cyclic fatigue, when comparing
PTG against PTU or any other brand line of files of like sizes.
Together, PTG Shaping and Finishing files precisely maintain
canal centering, especially when preparing longer, more
restrictive, and curved canals (Figure 12).
Because PTG has considerably less shape memory than
Ni-Ti, the Finishing files safely follow and produce effective
deep shapes that can be 3-D cleaned and filled (Figure 13).
From a practical standpoint, less shape memory means a new,
unopened package of files may exhibit a slight degree of
curvature. Further, upon removing a PTG file from a curved
canal, the file will be noted to have a similar curvature as the
canal being shaped. To facilitate reinserting a curved file into a
canal, place its apical extent against the line-angle of the
finished access cavity to guide it back into the canal, or
alternatively, use cotton pliers to straighten the file.

away from external root concavities.

3. A brush-cutting action achieved a centered preparation
and maximized remaining dentin.
4. The Shaping and Finishing files contacted more than
90% of the internal walls of the canals.
The PTG system, and in particular the Finishing files,
will serve to improve these results (Figure 14). PTG files are
single-use files and have been shown to be safely and
optimally utilized at 300 rpm and a torque of 4.0 to 5.2 Ncm.

FUTURE
In the present state of endodontic development, GPM and
shaping canals are still required to promote 3-D disinfection
and filling root canal systems. ProGlider represents a
significant advancement in GPM procedures by improving
safety, efficiency, and simplicity. PTG continues the ProTaper
legacy of excellence by uniting the most successful shaping
method from the past with the most recent advances in
metallurgical technology. In the authors opinion, ProGlider and
PTG will allow virtually any dentist who desires to improve his
or her canal preparation results to consistently achieve a gold
medal performance.

REFERENCES
1. Blum JY, Machtou P, Ruddle CJ, et al. Analysis of
mechanical preparations in extracted teeth using Pro
Taper rotary instruments: value of the safety quotient.
J Endod. 2003;29:567-575.
2. Cassim I, van der Vyver PJ. The importance of glide
path preparation in endodontics: a consideration of
instruments and literature. SADJ. 2013;68:322-327.
3. Caron G, Nham K, Bronnec F, et al. Effectiveness of
different final irrigant protocols on smear layer removal
in curved canals. J Endod. 2010;36:1361-1366.
4. West JD. The endodontic Glidepath: Secret to rotary
safety. Dent Today. 2010;29:86-93.
5. Ruddle CJ. Cleaning and shaping root canal systems.
In: Cohen S, Burns RC, eds. Pathways of the Pulp. 8th
ed. St. Louis, MO: Mosby; 2002:231-291.
6. Berutti E, Cantatore G, Castellucci A, et al. Use of
nickel-titanium rotary PathFile to create the glide path:
comparison with manual preflaring in simulated root
canals. J Endod. 2009;35:408-412.
7. Pasqualini D, Mollo L, Scotti N, et al. Postoperative
pain after manual and mechanical glide path: a

Evidence for Clinical Success

Some years ago, a clinical investigation of the PTU
technique, emphasizing method of use, was conducted on
highly curved mesial canals of extracted mandibular molar
teeth using CT-Analysis. Professor Paul Lambrecht and
Dr. Lars Bergmans, at the Catholic University of Leuven,
analyzed horizontal sections from different radicular levels
using CT slices and volume renderings. From an MIE
viewpoint, the results from this investigation are clinically
relevant. The advantages of the PTU files to brush laterally
and selectively cut dentin on the outstroke are summarized
below.15
1. The Shaping files were essentially loose within a canal
during the majority of their work.
2. The coronal aspects of canals were safely relocated

Continuing Education

Endodontic Canal Preparation: Innovations in Glide Path Management and Shaping Canals
randomized clinical trial. J Endod. 2012;38:32-36.
8. Pasqualini D, Bianchi CC, Paolino DS, et al. Computed
micro-tomographic evaluation of glide path with nickeltitanium rotary PathFile in maxillary first molars curved
canals. J Endod. 2012;38:389-393.
9. Johnson E, Lloyd A, Kuttler S, et al. Comparison
between a novel nickel-titanium alloy and 508 Nitinol
on the cyclic fatigue life of ProFile 25/.04 rotary
instruments. J Endod. 2008;34:1406-1409.
10. Schilder H. Cleaning and shaping the root canal. Dent
Clin North Am. 1974;18:269-296.
11. Ruddle CJ. Predictably successful endodontics. Dent
Today. June 2014;104-107.
12. West JD. Introduction of a new rotary endodontic
system: progressively tapering files. Dent Today.
2001;20:50-57.
13. Ruddle CJ, Machtou P, West JD. The shaping
movement: fifth-generation technology. Dent Today.
2013;32:94-99.
14. Gao Y, Gutmann JL, Wilkinson K, et al. Evaluation of
the impact of raw materials on the fatigue and
mechanical properties of ProFile Vortex rotary
instruments. J Endod. 2012;38:398-401.
15. Ruddle CJ. The ProTaper technique. Endod Topics.
2005;10:187-190.

Continuing Education

Endodontic Canal Preparation: Innovations in Glide Path Management and Shaping Canals
POST EXAMINATION INFORMATION

POST EXAMINATION QUESTIONS

To receive continuing education credit for participation in

this educational activity you must complete the program
post examination and answer 6 out of 8 questions correctly.

1. Glide path management is arguably the single most

consequential clinical step that serves to influence
the successful fulfillment of the mechanical and
biological goals for shaping canals.

Traditional Completion Option:

You may fax or mail your answers with payment to Dentistry
Today (see Traditional Completion Information on following
page). All information requested must be provided in order
to process the program for credit. Be sure to complete your
Payment, Personal Certification Information, Answers,
and Evaluation forms. Your exam will be graded within 72
hours of receipt. Upon successful completion of the postexam (answer 6 out of 8 questions correctly), a letter of
completion will be mailed to the address provided.

a. True

b. False

2. Dedicated mechanical glide path files have not been

shown to significantly reduce procedural chair time
while decreasing postoperative pain and flare-ups.
a. True

b. False

3. M-Wire has been shown to significantly improve

flexibility and provide a 400% greater resistance to
cyclic fatigue.
a. True

Online Completion Option:

Use this page to review the questions and mark your
answers. Return to dentalcetoday.com and sign in. If you
have not previously purchased the program, select it from
the Online Courses listing and complete the online
purchase process. Once purchased the program will be
added to your User History page where a Take Exam link
will be provided directly across from the program title.
Select the Take Exam link, complete all the program
questions and Submit your answers. An immediate grade
report will be provided. Upon receiving a passing grade,
complete the online evaluation form. Upon submitting
the form, your Letter of Completion will be provided
immediately for printing.

b. False

4. Unlike fixed tapered shaping systems, the ProTaper

system strategically allows clinicians to increase the
terminal diameter of a canal and expand the deep
shape without further enlarging the body of the canal.
a. True

b. False

5. When clinically using a ProGlider, never push, peck,

or force this file inward.
a. True

b. False

6. Improvements in Ni-Ti metallurgy have been a

hallmark in improving both flexibility, but resistance
to cyclic fatigue has not been increased.
a. True

General Program Information:

Online users may log in to dentalcetoday.com any time in
the future to access previously purchased programs and
view or print letters of completion and results.

b. False

7. DENTSPLY International was the first manufacturer

to make heat treatment technology available with
their mechanical files.
a. True

This CE activity was not developed in accordance with

AGD PACE or ADA CERP standards.
CEUs for this activity will not be accepted by the AGD
for MAGD/FAGD credit.

b. False

8. Because PTG has considerably less shape memory

than Ni-Ti, the Finishing files safely follow and
produce effective deep shapes that can be 3-D
cleaned and filled.
a. True

b. False

Continuing Education

Endodontic Canal Preparation: Innovations in Glide Path Management and Shaping Canals
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