Apical Gauging (Measuring the Terminal Diameters of Canals)

Procedural Flow • The function of apical gauging is to assess the apical diameter of Tactile Gauging
the canal prior to cutting the final shape. This is necessary to
insure that the taper of the final preparation extends all the way In this typical small root case the
Small Apical Med/Large Apical
Diameters to the terminus of the canal (Apical Continuity of Taper). This is #15 K-file passively drops through
Diameter
especially important when obturating with cone fit techniques the root canal terminus.
Patency Zone
but is less critical when filling with GTX Obturators.
Canal Terminus

• Use NiTi K-Files for gauging. Their enhanced flexibility allows for
20 much more accurate apical gauging in curved canals than with
In this small canal the #20 K-file
stainless steel, insuring the apical accuracy of obturation.
gauging instrument binds at
length.
• No effort is made to cut dentin during apical gauging. The
gauging instruments are inserted straight in and pulled straight
out, with no rotation, not even a wiggle. These K-Files are being
15
Example Canal Length (mm)

used as round “feeler gauges” and as such, binding an

instrument of specific diameter at the terminus or short of the The #30 K-file gauging instrument
terminus is a way to indirectly read the apical geometry of the binds .5 mm short of full length,
canal. confirming there is an apical
constricture and that there is shape
• Always use 17% aqueous EDTA as an irrigant during gauging to coronal that point.
10 remove the smear layer. It takes about the same time, a minute,
to accomplish both of these objectives.
Visual Gauging
Orifice Level • If you feel that the file that binds at length could go through the
terminus if pushed or rotated, you’re right, it probably could! The flutes at the very tip of the initial
But don’t push, recapitulate through the series of gauging 20-.06 GTX File taken to length are full of
5 instruments and see if the same size file binds at length the next debris. This shows that the apical
time through. diameter is .20 at the terminus, indicating
apical continuity of taper. The shape in a
• After apical gauging, you may need to adjust the shape to create small canal is done.
apical continuity of taper (see Chart 5). However, when the #20
17% Aqueous EDTA K-File binds at length, final shaping in virgin canals can be In this instance, there is no debris in
0 the last few flutes of the 20-.06 GTX
completed with a 20 Series GTX File.
File, indicating a terminal diameter
• When filling with GTX Oburators, visual gauging (looking larger than .20 and a need to
carefully for the presence or absence of debris in the tip flutes of introduce the 30 Series GTX File.
the first GTX File cut to length) is sufficient to assure the accuracy
of the apical fill. The flutes of the 30-.06 GTX File
are packed with debris, which
• In some cases, the apical diameter of the canal will gauge at an shows that shape extends all the
intermediate size. In that instance, a GTX file of the same taper way to the canal terminus. The
with a larger tip diameter is introduced. If, for instance, the #20 shape is now complete.
K-File drops through and a #30 binds short of length, a 30 Series
GTX file of the same taper would be cut to length in that canal.
D ENTAL E DUCATION L ABORATORIES Chart
L . S TEPHEN B UCHANAN, DDS
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