I clinical report _ shaping system The X-Files: four case reports Author_Dr L. Stephen Buchanan, USA the outcome. The new GTX Rotary File with M-Wire metallurgy satisfies these requirements. This new file has the attributes of much greater resistance to cyclic fatigue failure— the major cause of instrument separation. In addition, fewer files and procedural steps are needed to create ideal shapes in root canals. As an improvement to the GT File series, the GTX Files have landed cutting blades for prevention of transportation, although the radial lands have been optimised. This has been accomplished by varying the land widths along the file length to increase cutting efficiency without losing their resistance to straightening curved canal paths. Furthermore, the blade angles have been opened up (fewer twists), which not only increases cutting speeds, but also increases their flexibilities and the size of their chip spaces between the flutes. Fig. 1 Fig. 1_Maxillary molar with files in each root to lengths determined by Root ZX (J. Morita); note the curvatures in the MB and DB canals, as well as the lengths in the palatal and DB canals that are short of the radiographic root apices but at the termini of those canals. _In his book Innovation and Entrepreneurship, business guru Peter Drucker stated that a new technology is not widely taken up by users unless it provides a 10x improvement over their current methods of work. This is certainly true in dentistry. Incorporating a new concept, technique, or instrument into a fully scheduled day is a huge stressor. It also entails significant training costs for the dentist and staff, as well as high costs for the new inventory needed. Because of this, the most financially successful dentists watch carefully for the point in time at which the benefits of the new technology outstrip the costs of taking it on. Only early adopters, who are driven by wanting to be on the cutting edge of technology, will jump in sooner. When the 10x factor of improved results becomes a reality, clinicians who recognise these advantages can accomplish the treatment in less time, with fewer steps and greater confidence in All of these changes in efficiency were accomplished without forsaking one of the unique features of the GT File series: the 1 mm maximum flute diameter (MFD) limitation, which prevents over-enlargement of the coronal region of the root canal. This is a key factor in reducing the loss of structural integrity of the tooth after endodontic treatment. So, with the pre-existing safety features of landed cutting blades and limited MFDs, and the newly enhanced safety of R-Phase NiTi metallurgy, the only thing that could be better would be to reduce the number of files and procedural steps needed to accomplish shaping procedures in canals. This article is intended to describe how these files are able to cut the shapes that are needed in most root canals, using one or two instruments with four to five procedural steps. I will detail the shaping procedures used in molars with moderate-to-severe canal curvatures by me and two of my esteemed endodontic colleagues. 06 I roots 4_ 2009