Crown down Pressureless Technique

Begin at the coronal portion with Gates-Gliddens

Continue down the canal, reducing the size of each file as you get closer to the apex

Your goal is to achieve a funnel shape

Description: In the crown down technique the dentist essentially works from the crown of the tooth, shaping the canal as he or she moves towards the apex. The instruments are used in a large to small sequence. The first instruments are the Gates-Gliddens which do the coronal flaring. The Peeso reamers or Hedstrom files follow in the mid-root region. Finally, progressively smaller files take the dentist towards the apex.





1. Insert #35 file until it just binds and measure depth - this is the “radicular access length”

2. Flare coronal portion of canal using #2 and #3 Gates to radicular access length

3. Starting with #30 file, insert beyond radicular access length until resistance first encountered

4. Rotate #30 clockwise two full rotations using NO pressure

5. Step down using sequentially smaller files rotated as in #4 above to a point 3mm from the radiographic apex. This is the “provisional working length”. Take a radiograph with the file at the provisional WL and estimate your “true” WL.

6. Continue stepping down with smaller files to the true WL

7. Place a #35 file until resistance is just met (should be at or beyond your radicular access length)

8. Rotate passively two full turns and then proceed with smaller files in step-down to the true WL