Endo Quick Tip: What to Do with Bent Endo Hand Files

Root canal supplies are crazy expensive, and we can go through them fast, so I’m always looking for ways to MacGyver things. If you don’t know that reference, 1) I’m probably older than you, and 2) I just mean to say that I’m always searching for tricks to get as much life out of my tools as possible. I’m all about efficiency, my friends. So let me give you a quick endo tip that will help you make the most of your endo hand files!

Endo Hand File All Bent Out of Shape? Try This!

If you’re like me, you somehow end up with all of the calcified cases out there and ruin all your endo hand files. Here’s what my C files normally look like in the aftermath:

The end is all crumpled, and totally unusable. Or… maybe not!

Let me show you exactly what to do when your files get all bent out of shape.

After many years of experience, I’ve learned to be crafty and resourceful when it comes to my files. I may run a successful practice, but that doesn’t mean I want to be spending all my money on supplies I don’t need!

So when one of my C files gets bent like this, instead of simply throwing it out, I cut it and use it again.

In the end it looks like this…

Sure, changing the tip size like this means it’s no longer an 8C file. But that doesn’t mean you can’t use it! Now, you’ve got a perfectly good 10—or maybe even a 12—that’s even more aggressive in cutting and engaging the walls so you can remove more dentin in the area. It also opens the canal a bit more coronally so when you introduce another 8C file, that file goes another millimeter further.

The lesson here is that you can get really smart with your endo tools if you just do a little finagling. When you take a second to think about what you’re doing and what the file is doing for you, you can actually make it work a little bit more efficiently.

So, try this little tip and see if it helps you in calcified cases. With any luck, you’ll have less crunched up hand files in your cup—and a smile on your face—at the end of the day!

Want more of my expert endo tips? Download my free Endodontic Instrumentation Workflow to help you develop a baseline protocol for root canals that can guide you toward the best possible results every time!

– Sonia