[Manual instrumentation of root canals. Review of the last decade]

In this article the authors make a literature review of root canal hand-instrumentation techniques in this decade. To make it possible, they also review the standardized instruments used in endodontics. They remark there are two great groups of files in use, K-type files and H-type files. In the former one there are rhombus section files and triangular section files, both more flexible than old square section files. Also in K-files group they remark the existence of files with a noncutting tip, useful for reaming techniques. In H-files group, they remark the existence of three types, typical H-files, Helifiles and S-files (including Unifiles). When studying the techniques, they remark as actual the flared techniques with anticurvature filing and step-back. New described ways of instrumentation are Crown-Down Pressureless Technique (which is said to reduce the extrusion of debris uses files with noncutting tip in reaming motion; and the Senia-Wildey technique.