Files & Reamers
785 products
Endodontic files and reamers for negotiating, shaping and refining root canals, stocked in the sizes clinics go through fastest. Hand files (reamer & post refill files) are the tactile end of the shelf: K-files cut on both a quarter-turn and a pull stroke and are the standard for negotiation and glide path, H-files cut only on withdrawal and remove dentine quickly, and endodontic reamers, with fewer flutes and a longer pitch, cut on rotation and are used to enlarge straighter canals. C-type files carry a stiffer shaft for calcified canals.
NiTi hand files flex through curvature where stainless steel would ledge, which makes them useful for negotiation in curved molars, while NiTi rotary and reciprocating files do the bulk shaping in a motor. Working length is the second decision after size: 21 mm for posterior access and limited opening, 25 mm as the general default, 31 mm for long anterior roots. Reamers and Gates Glidden drills open the coronal third, and file blocks and organisers keep a sterilisable sequence together.
The core of the shelf is the RayEndo Pro line from RMH3 Dental Supply, with stainless steel C+ files in 21 mm and 25 mm and NiTi K files in 25 mm and 31 mm, sold six to a box in individual ISO sizes, alongside dental reamers and file systems from Pac-Dent, DiaDent, J-Morita and Keystone Industries.
How to choose
- File type: K files for negotiation and glide path, H-files for rapid dentine removal on withdrawal, endodontic reamers for enlarging straighter canals.
- Metal: stainless steel for tactile feedback and pre-curving, NiTi hand files and rotary files for curvature and for staying centred.
- Working length: 21 mm for limited opening and posterior teeth, 25 mm as default, 31 mm for long roots.
- ISO size: 06 to 15 for negotiation and glide path, 20 to 40 for most apical preparations, larger sizes for wide canals and retreatment.
- Format: single ISO sizes for the ones you consume, assorted boxes for a starting set, refill packs for the sizes that go first.
- Organisation: a file block or organiser if you want the sequence sterilised and delivered as one set rather than loose.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a file and a reamer?
Files have more flutes at a tighter pitch and cut with a filing or quarter-turn-and-pull action; reamers have fewer flutes at a longer pitch and cut on rotation. Reamers enlarge relatively straight canals efficiently, while files give more control in curvature and in irregular canals.
When should I use NiTi hand files instead of stainless steel?
NiTi flexes through curvature and resists ledging, so it helps in curved molar canals once a path exists. Stainless steel gives more tactile feedback, can be pre-curved, and is generally preferred for initial negotiation and for calcified canals where stiffness is an advantage.
Which working length should I order?
Choose 25 mm as the general default, 21 mm where opening is limited or the tooth sits far posteriorly, and 31 mm for long anterior roots such as canines. Ordering a single length for everything eventually forces compromises on access or on control.
What are Gates Glidden drills used for?
They open and flare the coronal and middle thirds of the canal so files reach the apex with less coronal interference, and they are run in a slow-speed handpiece at low torque. They are used before apical shaping, with the smaller sizes taken deepest.
How quickly do file orders ship?
Files ship from our Northern Virginia warehouse, and in-stock sizes ordered by 3 PM ET leave the same day. Since files are consumed one ISO size at a time, most practices set a reorder point per size rather than reordering the whole sequence at once.