Protaper Hand Files are quality files that feature a better nickel titanium construction than ProTaper Universal Rotary Files – plus ISO-colored handles. Their variable taper and advanced flute design offer efficiency to achieve consistent shaping, even under calcified canals.

ProTaper geometries

A unique feature of the ProTaper files, compared to other file systems, is each instrument has changing percentage tapers over the length of its cutting blades. In use, this progressively tapered design significantly improve flexibility, cutting efficiency, and safety. Another feature of the ProTaper instruments relates to their convex, triangular cross-section, which enhances the cutting action while decreasing the rotational friction between the blade of the file and dentin. ProTaper files have a changing helical angle and pitch over their cutting blades, which reduces the potential of an instrument from inadvertently screwing into the canal. The ProTaper files each have a noncutting, modified guiding tip. This feature allows each instrument to safely follow the secured portion of a canal, while the small flat on its tip enhances its ability to find its way through soft tissue and debris. The ProTaper system is comprised of three Shaping and five Finishing files.

The shaping files

Shaping File No. 1 and Shaping File No. 2, termed S1 and S2, have purple and white identification rings on their handles, respectively. The S1 and S2 files have D0 diameters of 0.17 mm and 0.20 mm, respectively, and their D14 maximal flute diameters approach 1.20 mm. The Auxiliary Shaping File, termed SX, has no identification ring on its gold-colored handle and, with a shorter overall length of 19 mm, provides excellent access when space is restrictive. The SX file has a D0 diameter of 0.19 mm and a D14 diameter approaching 1.20 mm. The Shaping files have increasingly larger percentage tapers over the length of their cutting blades, allowing each instrument to engage, cut, and prepare a specific area of the canal and perform its own ‘crown down’ work. Because SX has a much quicker rate of taper between D1 and D9 as compared to the other ProTaper Shaping files, it is primarily used after the S1 and S2 files to more fully shape canals in coronally broken down or anatomically shorter teeth.

The finishing files

Five Finishing files named F1, F2, F3, F4, and F5 have yellow, red, blue, double black, and double yellow identification rings on their handles corresponding to D0 diameters and apical tapers of 20/07, 25/08, 30/09, 40/06, and 50/05, respectively. From D4–D14 each instrument has a decreasing percentage taper which serves to improve flexibility, reduce the potential for dangerous taper-lock, and reduce the potential to needlessly overenlarge the coronal two-thirds of any given canal.

ProTaper shaping technique

Endodontic outcomes are improved when instruments pass through the access opening, effortlessly slide down smooth axial walls, and are easily inserted into the orifice. The potential to consistently shape canals and clean root canal systems is significantly enhanced when the coronal two-thirds of the canal is first pre-enlarged, followed by preparing its apical one-third.

Shaping Files – Variable Increasing Taper (Eiffel Tower shape)

Sx, S1, S2 – Shape the Coronal & Middle part of the canal

Finishing Files

F1, F2, F3 , F4 , F5 – Shape & Finishes the Apical part of the canal

• Sx – 19/4 %
• S1 – 17/2 %
• S2 – 20/4 %
• F1 – 20/7 %
• F2 – 25/8 %
• F3 – 30/9%

Packaging