Fluted endodontic file

1. A fluted endodontic file defining a central longitudinal axis and including a working length extending along the central longitudinal axis, wherein:

the working length includes a single flute extending along the central longitudinal axis; and

the working length defines an off-center cross-section along the central longitudinal axis, the cross-section including three vertices that define a triangular region; wherein:

the single flute comprises a cutting edge configured to cut tooth tissue;

the cross section defines a first side, a second side and a third side; and

the first side, the second side and the third side are each concave relative to a point within the cross-section.

2. The fluted endodontic file of claim 1 wherein one of the three vertices is an inner vertex positioned apart from the central longitudinal axis.

3. The fluted endodontic file of claim 1 wherein:

the working length defines a plurality of off-center cross-sections along the central longitudinal axis, the plurality of off-center cross-sections including the cross-section; and

distances between an inner vertex of each of the plurality of off-center cross-sections and the central longitudinal axis are constant along the working length.

4. The fluted endodontic file of claim 1 wherein:

the working length defines a plurality of off-center cross-sections along the central longitudinal axis, the plurality of off-center cross-sections including the cross-section; and

distances between an inner vertex of each the plurality of off-center cross-sections and the central longitudinal axis vary along the working length.

5. The fluted endodontic file of claim 1 further comprising a spoon-shaped tip positioned at an end of the working length and being configured to cut tooth tissue.

6. The fluted endodontic file of claim 5 wherein the spoon-shaped tip has a half conical shape with a concave radius and includes a tip cutting edge extending along a side of the tip.

7. The endodontic file of claim 1 wherein the cross-section defines an area that does not include the central longitudinal axis.

8. The endodontic file of claim 1 wherein the cross-section defines an area that includes the central longitudinal axis.

9. The fluted endodontic file of claim 1 wherein the cross-section comprises an area of 20 to 75% of a total area circumscribed by a circle surrounding the cross-section.

10. The fluted endodontic file of claim 1 wherein:

the working length includes a first portion extending along the central longitudinal axis and a second portion adjacent the first portion and extending along the central longitudinal axis;

the working length defines a first plurality of cross-sections along the first portion, the first plurality of cross-sections including the cross-section and having three vertices; and

the working length defines a second plurality of cross-sections along the second portion, the second plurality of cross-sections having two vertices.

11. A fluted endodontic file defining a central longitudinal axis and including a working length extending along the central longitudinal axis, wherein:

the working length includes:

a single flute;

a first portion extending along the central longitudinal axis; and

a second portion adjacent the first portion and extending along the central longitudinal axis;

the working length defines a first plurality of cross-sections having a first number of sides along the first portion; and

the working length defines a second plurality of cross-sections having a second number of sides along the second portion.

12. The fluted endodontic file of claim 11 wherein:

the first plurality of cross-sections has three sides; and

the second plurality of cross-sections has two sides.

13. The fluted endodontic file of claim 11 wherein:

each of the first plurality of cross-sections define at least one convex side relative to a point within the corresponding cross-section; and

each of the second plurality of cross-sections define at least one concave side relative to a point within the corresponding cross-section.

14. The endodontic file of claim 11 wherein:

the single flute extends along the first portion; and

the working length includes two flutes extending along the second portion; and

the first portion extends away from a shank of the file; and

the second portion includes a tip of the file.

15. The endodontic file of claim 14 wherein the first portion comprises two-thirds of the working length and the second portion comprises one-third of the working length.

16. The endodontic file of claim 11 wherein the single flute passes through a tip region of the file.