Swaggering Endodontic Instruments

Abstract

Endodontic instruments are described which have at least a section with a center of mass offset from an axis of rotation so that when the instrument is rotated, the section bends away from the axis of rotation.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An endodontic instrument for preparing an endodontic cavity space, comprising:
 a shank configured for attachment to a motor to rotate the endodontic device about an axis of rotation; and   a body extending from the shank, the body having a tip end and a shank end and a working surface between the shank end and the tip end, at least a portion of the body with the working surface being tapered such that the tip end has a diameter that is less than a diameter of the shank end, the body having a center of mass at each transverse cross-section of the body, centers of mass of transverse cross sections of the body defining a mass path, wherein at least a portion of the mass path is off the axis of rotation with the mass path configured and the body of a material having a flexibility such that the body swaggers when the instrument is rotated about the axis of rotation at a speed appropriate for preparing an endodontic cavity space.