Lentulo Spiral Filler (Dentsply Sirona) – Root Canal Filler

The Lentulo Spiral Filler from Dentsply Sirona is a specialized endodontic instrument for the mechanical (rotary) delivery of sealers (cements), pastes, or liquid medications into the root canal. It ensures fast, uniform, and effective filling of the canal.

Technology and Construction

• Mechanism (Archimedes Screw Principle): The instrument is shaped like a thin, flexible spiral that widens towards the tip. When rotated at low speeds by an endomotor (or a low-speed handpiece), the spiral acts on the principle of the Archimedes screw: it effectively captures the liquid material from the canal orifice and advances it toward the apex.

• Material: Made from high-quality, flexible medical-grade steel, allowing the instrument to work effectively in curved canals.

• Usage: Lentulo is intended exclusively for rotary use at low speeds (typically $100–300 \text{ rpm}$).

• Color Coding: The instruments feature standard size coding that corresponds to the sizes of finishing endodontic files (e.g., #25, #30).

Purpose and Advantages

• Uniform Wall Coating: Unlike manual material delivery with a paper point or file, Lentulo ensures a homogeneous layer of sealer across the entire canal wall surface, including hard-to-reach lateral canals and dentinal tubules.

• Prevention of Air Pockets: The rapid rotation and spiral action help minimize the formation of air bubbles or voids within the sealer, which is critical for quality sealing (obturation).

• Efficiency: Significantly reduces the time required for material delivery and distribution, especially in long and wide canals.

• Use with Pastes and Sealers: Ideally suited for the delivery of:

  • Sealers (cements) before gutta-percha obturation (e.g., Sealapex, AH Plus).

  • Therapeutic pastes (e.g., calcium hydroxide) during temporary root canal filling.

Safety

It is essential to strictly adhere to low rotational speeds, as high speeds can lead to material overheating, premature setting, or, most dangerously, instrument fracture within the canal. The clinician must also avoid working right up to the apex to prevent extruding the material beyond the root tip.

The Lentulo Spiral Filler from Dentsply Sirona is a high-precision instrument that ensures high-quality and reliable filling of the root canal.