ProTaper Gold®
Dentsply Sirona
ProTaper Gold®
Dentsply Sirona
Variable taper design with progressive engagement
Continuous Rotation · Gold Heat-Treated NiTi
- RPM
- Ncm1.5–6
- File
- 8
- Verified
Specifications
Tap icons for term definitions
| File | Tip | Taper | SpeedRPM | TorqueNcm |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Diameter at the file tip (D0). Larger tips shape wider canals. | ||||
How much the file widens per mm. Higher taper = more aggressive cutting. | ||||
Rotational speed (RPM). Follow manufacturer settings to prevent file breakage. | ||||
Rotational force limit (Ncm). Prevents file fracture by auto-reversing when resistance is too high. | ||||
SXyellow | 0.19 | 3.5-19% | 300 | 5-6 |
S1purple | 0.18 | 2-11% | 300 | 5-6 |
S2white | 0.20 | 4-11.5% | 300 | 1.5-2 |
F1yellow | 0.20 | 7% | 300 | 1.5-2 |
F2red | 0.25 | 8% | 300 | 3-4 |
F3blue | 0.30 | 9% | 300 | 3-4 |
F4black | 0.40 | 6% | 300 | 3-4 |
F5yellow | 0.50 | 5% | 300 | 3-4 |
Matching gutta-percha & paper points
- Gutta-percha
- Dentsply Sirona Conform Fit Gutta-Percha for ProTaper GoldF1, F2, F3, F4, F5
- Paper points
- Dentsply Sirona ProTaper Gold Absorbent PointsF1, F2, F3, F4, F5
Clinical Tips
- Speed: 300 RPM constant rotation per the current IFU (2024/2026 revisions); the legacy 2017 DFU permitted a 250-350 RPM range
- Current EU/ROW IFU (2024-11 and 2026-02) specifies torque RANGES: 5-6 Ncm (S1, SX), 1.5-2 Ncm (S2, F1), 3-4 Ncm (F2-F5). The North America IFU (2021) keeps flat values of 520/150/312 g·cm (≈5.1/1.5/3.1 Ncm)
- Manufacturer reports ~2.4x average cyclic fatigue resistance vs ProTaper Universal (2.6x for the F3 file specifically; internal lab data) — independent bench studies confirm the direction (Hieawy 2015, PMID 25841955; Uygun 2016, PMID 26011308; Elnaghy & Elsaka 2016, PMID 26426295)
- Manufacturer reports ~24% increased flexibility vs ProTaper Universal (internal lab data) — independent bench studies confirm greater flexibility, attributed to two-stage (A→R→M) transformation and high Af (Hieawy 2015; Elnaghy & Elsaka 2016)
- Bench trade-off: torsional resistance and microhardness are lower than ProTaper Universal (Elnaghy & Elsaka 2016) — respect torque limits and avoid taking an oversized file to length (per US IFU precautions)
- Micro-CT: less canal transportation and more preserved dentin thickness than ProTaper Universal in curved canals (Gagliardi 2015, PMID 26321062); vs ProTaper Ultimate and Reciproc Blue, shaping was comparable in moderately curved canals (2026 micro-CT, PMID 41934543)
- RCT evidence vs successor ProTaper Ultimate is mixed: one trial found less postoperative pain and greater bacterial reduction with ProTaper Gold in necrotic premolars (PMID 41882642); another found equivalent postoperative pain in mandibular molars (PMID 41211526)
- A ≥2-year RCT reported higher healing success with conventional ProTaper Gold treatment than with a minimally invasive TruNatomy protocol (88.7-91.9% vs 71.4-77.8%; PMID 40603366), while a 2026 meta-analysis found no postoperative-pain difference vs TruNatomy (low-certainty evidence, PMID 42030017)
- Balancing evidence: one RCT reported higher postoperative pain vs XP-endo Shaper and 2Shape (PMID 36748451), and a 2026 bench meta-analysis found EdgeTaper Platinum's cyclic fatigue resistance higher in most comparisons (high heterogeneity, PMID 42261515)
- Shorter 11mm handle allows improved accessibility to posterior teeth (vs 13mm ProTaper Universal handle)
- Same exact geometries as ProTaper Universal with advanced gold heat-treatment metallurgy
- The convex triangular cross-section and progressive taper cut efficiently while keeping rotational friction low (per manufacturer)
- Non-cutting tip design with small flat area enhances ability to navigate through soft tissue and debris
- Use Shaping files (S1, S2, SX) with brushing action on withdrawal stroke — always brush away from the furcation
- Use Finishing files (F1-F5) with non-brushing action — follow canal passively to WL and withdraw immediately (≤1 second at length)
- Verify the final shape by inspecting the finishing file's apical flutes for dentinal debris (per manufacturer technique card)
- In severe curvatures the current IFU permits using the files manually; for abrupt apical curvature, pre-curved hand files are directed for the apical region instead of rotary
- For extremely curved canals the current IFU recommends dedicating a new file to a single canal, preferring small/flexible files, and considering small-angle motions (watch-winding, balanced force) to limit rotational bending fatigue
- Files may appear slightly curved out of the pack — a result of the proprietary process, not a defect; straightening before use is unnecessary
- Sequence is the same regardless of canal length, diameter, or curvature
- Keep apical pressure to a minimum and never push a file; a torque-control motor is recommended
- Delivered sterile in radiation-sterilized blisters per current IFU (2017-era non-sterile stock required sterilization before first use)
- System-matched obturation ecosystem: Conform Fit gutta-percha (variable-taper master cones), matching paper points, obturators (F1-F5) and size verifiers are available (manufacturer)
Warnings
- Do not use rotary in canals with abrupt apical curvature — heightened separation risk; current EUR IFU (2026) directs pre-curved hand files in the apical region instead (US IFU retains this as a formal contraindication)
- Contains nickel — do not use on patients with known nickel allergy (US IFU warning; current EUR IFU formally lists no known contraindications)
- Do not fully immerse in sodium hypochlorite — only the working part may contact NaOCl, at no more than 5% concentration (current IFU)
- Reusability is region-dependent: US IFU (2021) = sterile, single-patient use, reprocessing not applicable; current EU/ROW IFU (2024/2026) = multiple-use with reprocessing per Dentsply's General Processing Instructions; the superseded 2017 ROW DFU recommended max 5 uses and max 2 canals (>30° or S-shaped), 4 (10-30°), 8 (<10°)
- For extremely curved canals the current IFU recommends single-canal use of a new file
- Inspect before each use for deformation (bent or unwound flutes), breakage, corrosion, damaged cutting edges, or loss of color coding — discard if any are present
- The current IFU excludes re-use of silicone stops and asks for them to be removed and discarded after each use
- Use rubber dam isolation; safety and effectiveness not established in pregnancy, breastfeeding, or children (EUR IFU 2026)
Obturation Techniques
Single cone, warm vertical, carrier-based & lateral compaction
References
Protocol
01Glide Path2
02Shaping4
03Finishing3
Related Systems
From Dentsply Sirona Systems
Manufacturer page
Dentsply Sirona SystemsOther continuous rotation systems
Motion category
Continuous RotationComparisons
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Alloy
Gold Heat TreatmentCollections
Clinical guides
Frequently Asked Questions
What alloy is ProTaper Gold made from?
What alloy is ProTaper Gold made from?
Answer
ProTaper Gold® is manufactured from Gold Heat-Treated NiTi.
How many files are in the ProTaper Gold sequence?
How many files are in the ProTaper Gold sequence?
Answer
The ProTaper Gold® system includes 8 files: SX, S1, S2, F1, F2, F3, F4, F5.
What is the ProTaper Gold file sequence?
What is the ProTaper Gold file sequence?
Answer
ProTaper Gold® is used in this order: SX → S1 → S2 → F1 → F2 → F3 → F4 → F5.
- Per-file speed, torque and technique are in the protocol section above.
What motion type does ProTaper Gold use?
What motion type does ProTaper Gold use?
Answer
ProTaper Gold® uses continuous rotation motion.
What cases is ProTaper Gold best for?
What cases is ProTaper Gold best for?
Answer
ProTaper Gold® is best suited for: versatile multi-file sequence, complex anatomy, graduated shaping.
What speed and torque settings are recommended for ProTaper Gold?
What speed and torque settings are recommended for ProTaper Gold?
Answer
Recommended settings: 300 RPM and 5-6 / 1.5-2 / 3-4 Ncm across the file sequence (refer to official DFU for full per-file parameters).
Reviewed by
Uzm. Dt. Levent Yüksel
DDS · Endodontist
Endodontist — DDS, Hacettepe University; endodontics specialty training, Ankara University. 10+ years of clinical experience. Sole author and reviewer of EndoGuide content.
Cite this page
Citation formats for the manufacturer-verified specification data on this page.
AMA
Yüksel L. ProTaper Gold: sequence, speed and torque settings. EndoGuide. Updated: 2026-10-03. https://endo-guide.app/system/protaper-gold
BibTeX
@misc{endoguide-protaper-gold,
author = {Yüksel, Levent},
title = {ProTaper Gold: sequence, speed and torque settings},
howpublished = {\url{https://endo-guide.app/system/protaper-gold}},
year = {2026},
note = {EndoGuide. Updated: 2026-10-03}
}Powered by:Uzm. Dt. Levent Yüksel
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