Page 25 - The Beauty and Sorrow in Endodontics (WL and C/S)

Fig B12

Finding a properly fitted master cone is the last step
to cleaning and shaping and the first step to a

perfect obturation.

Toss out the confusing traditional terminology

Open Chamber vs. Access Cavity Preparation
Traditionally, the term “open chamber” had been used in endodontics, however, this term
does not encompass all the crucial steps to be completed prior to commencing cleaning
and shaping of the canals. To combat this, Dr. Schilder taught his students to use the term
“access cavity preparation”, which is a continuous progress that includes all the necessary

preparation of the cavity to allow for more ease of placement of the instruments and gutta
percha cones into the canals in subsequent steps. Thus, compared to “open chamber”, the
term “access cavity preparation” is much easier to understand without confusion.

Instrumentation vs. Cleaning & Shaping
Neither “mechanical instrumentation”, “bio-mechanical instrumentation”, nor “chemo-
mechanical instrumentation” describes the purpose of the procedure as well as “cleaning
and shaping” does. These traditional terms indicate that the canals are to be enlarged prior

to obturation. On the other hand, the term “cleaning” tells the operator that during this
step, they are to removal all the tissue, mirco-organism, and pathogens from the root
canal system. In addition, the operator is to “shape” the canals to allow for a smooth,

tapered system that can be easily obturated.

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