Anatomic Endodontic Technology (AET)--a crown-down root canal preparation technique: basic concepts, operative procedure and instruments.

AIM: To illustrate the conceptual basis and the operative procedure of the Anatomic Endodontic Technology (AET) technique and to illustrate the specific instruments used in each phase.
SUMMARY: The basic characteristics of the AET technique are reported. The instruments and procedure are described in three phases: coronal access, coronal-middle preparation and apical preparation. In the first phase, correct cavity design is described. In the coronal-middle phase, the use of four stainless steel shaping instruments, powered by a reciprocating handpiece is described, incorporating a brushing-milling action against canal walls. During the apical phase, dedicated apical stainless steel and NiTi hand instruments are used to complete the preparation. The stainless steel apical files are used with a 1/4 turn and withdrawal movement whilst the NiTi are used in 360 degrees rotary motion. KEY LEARNING POINTS: Most current canal shaping techniques do not prepare all the canal walls and can result in over-enlargement in some areas. AET defines three regions of the canal: coronal (from the cavo-surface of the access cavity), coronal-middle, and apical. Coronal-middle instrumentation is undertaken with four mechanically driven stainless steel shaping instrument used in brushing-milling action against canal walls. Apical preparation is completed by hand and with the formation of a stop.