Free Endodontic Taper Calculator
Calculate the taper of root canals, endodontic files and gutta percha cones
How do you calculate endodontic taper?
Calculating the taper of an endodontic file (manual or rotary), involves understanding the rate at which the diameter of the file increases per unit length. The taper is usually expressed as a percentage and indicates the conicity of the file.
Here’s how you calculate the taper:
1. Identify the Increase in Diameter: Measure the increase in the diameter of the file over a certain length. For example, if the diameter of the file increases by 0.02 mm over a length of 1 mm, this is the increase in diameter.
2. Calculate the Taper Percentage: To find the taper percentage, you divide the increase in diameter by the length over which this increase occurs, and then multiply by 100 to convert it into a percentage.
The formula is:
Taper (%)=(Increase in Diameter/length)×100
Using the example above, if the diameter increases by 0.02 mm over a length of 1 mm, the calculation would be:
Taper (%)=(0.02 mm/1mm )×100=2%
What does 2% taper of Endo files mean?
This means that for every millimeter of length, the diameter of the file increases by 2% of its initial value. In endodontics, common tapers are .02, .04, .06, etc., indicating the percentage increase in diameter per millimeter of length.
