NiTi Flexibility Curved Canals — ORE Part 1 MCQ

Instant feedback + full explanation. One question, done properly.

EasyDental MaterialsNiTi Flexibility Curved CanalsORE Part 1

A 30-year-old patient requires root canal treatment of a mandibular molar with curved mesial canals. Which file property is most important for negotiating these canals while maintaining their original path?

Educational content. Not a substitute for clinical judgement or local policy.

Reveal the answer and explanation

Correct answer: E — Flexibility

Explanation lettering: D = shown as A · E = shown as D · A = shown as E

A is correct. In a curved canal, the key property is file flexibility, because a flexible instrument is better able to follow the existing canal curvature and reduce the tendency to straighten it. Nickel-titanium files are more flexible in bending than comparable stainless-steel instruments, and NiTi files have been shown to maintain the original path of curved canals more effectively. Cutting efficiency is useful for dentine removal but does not determine safe negotiation of curvature. Working length is a canal measurement rather than an intrinsic file property. Colour coding assists instrument identification, and handle design affects handling, but neither reduces canal transportation or ledging in a curved mesial canal.

Reference: Esposito PT, Cunningham CJ. A comparison of canal preparation with nickel-titanium and stainless steel instruments. Journal of Endodontics, 1995. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37176319/