Cleaning Isthmus Areas
A bacteria free isthmus is essential.
Isthmuses are narrow anatomic areas containing pulp and/or necrotic tissue. The isthmus should be disinfected and cleaned as thoroughly as possible. When instrumenting canals with traditional files, a large portion of wall areas remains untouched. Ultrasonic tips can help to considerably raise the percentage of cleaned surface and enhance the removal of biofilm.
Files Aren’t Enough to Clean Isthmus.
The root canal is NOT round
Root canals are not round but in fact flat and many different shapes. Traditional files are unable to clean the isthmus.
Files can’t thoroughly clean
Traditional Files don’t touch every wall. If there is no touching, bacterias are not removed.
%
Canal Walls Untouched by Traditional Files
Step-by-Step Isthmus Cleaning
1 – Clean the isthmus using a proper diameter ultrasonic tip. For thinner canals, we recommend the ISTHMUS, ISTHMUS D or Clearsonic tips. For larger canals, the E4 or the E4D.
2 – Touch the canal walls with the ultrasonic tip in order to dissociate the biofilm. Diamond coated tips have a higher cutting action. Therefore, they must be used with caution, preferably by professionals that have magnification equipment available.
3 – Finally, you may turn on the water flow to rinse and remove debris created during the procedure.
1. Canals after instrumentation with files.
2. The ultrasonic insert must touch all isthmus walls.
3. Clean isthmus area.
Premolar after preparation with traditional files
ISTHMUS D tip in action, cleaning the isthmus area
Clean canal walls after procedure with ISTHMUS D ultrasonic tip
Use the tip gently, as if you were using a 0.5mm mechanical pencil. The cutting does not come from the pressure applied, but from the vibration. Avoid working for more than 30 seconds without water flow – it can damage the hand piece due to overheating.