GERODONTOLOGY
THE USE OF ROTARY
INSTRUMENTS IN ENDODONTIC
THERAPY OF OLDER DENTAL
PATIENTS
Abstract
As the older population is continuously growing and many of them retain a
significant number of natural teeth, it may be speculated that more endodontic
therapies will be performed. The use of rotary instruments constantly grows
as they offer many advantages, such as reduction in working time and better
preservation of the original root canal morphology.The aim of this study was to
discuss the advantages and drawbacks of rotary instrumentation techniques in
older patients.
Many older people suffer from significant illnesses restricting access to the
dental office and demanding fewer and shorter working sessions. The use of
rotary instrumentation may offer a reduction in the number of visits and the
duration of the working sessions. They may also help access the root canal
system and achieve patency easier and faster, taking into consideration the
increased calcification rates and the secondary dentine deposition in older
teeth. The drawbacks of the method include increased risk of instrument
separation and the possibility of dentine microcracks as its elasticity reduces
with ageing.
Rotary systems may be useful tools for the contemporary dental clinician and
can offer significant help in many demanding geriatric cases. Nevertheless, they
must be cautiously applied after appropriate case selection and familiarisation
with their use. More research is necessary on the comparison between the use
of rotary instruments and hand files, particularly in older patients.
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