ISO/TR 3630-6:2023

Dentistry - Endodontic instruments - Part 6: Numeric coding system

This document specifies a coding system for specific characteristics of endodontic instruments, with a 12-digit code identifying general and specific characteristics of instruments or groups of instruments. The numerals identify the type of instrument, nominal size, taper, length, working part material, type and material of handle or shank.

Médecine bucco-dentaire — Instruments d'endodontie — Partie 6: Système de codification numérique

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 02-Nov-2023
• ICS: 11.060.20 - Dental equipment
• Technical Committee: ISO/TC 106/SC 4 - Dental instruments
• Drafting Committee: ISO/TC 106/SC 4/WG 9 - Endodontic instruments
• Current Stage: 6060 - International Standard published
• Start Date: 03-Nov-2023
• Completion Date: 03-Nov-2023

Relations

• Consolidated By: ISO 80000-3:2019/Amd 1:2025 - Quantities and units - Part 3: Space and time - Amendment 1
• Effective Date: 10-Jun-2023

Overview

ISO/TR 3630-6:2023 - "Dentistry - Endodontic instruments - Part 6: Numeric coding system" specifies a standardized 12‑digit numeric coding system for endodontic instruments. The code groups instrument characteristics into six fields that uniquely identify instrument type, nominal size, taper, designated length, working‑part material and handle or shank type. This Technical Report replaces the previous number coding in ISO 6360-5 and harmonizes information across the ISO 3630 series.

Key topics and technical requirements

• 12‑digit code structure: The code is arranged in six groups (A B C D E F) - shown as 000 000 00 00 0 0 - where each group maps to specific properties.
  • Group A (3 digits) - instrument type subdivided into: cross‑section (digit 1), tip design (digit 2), and preferred movement/technique (digit 3).
  • Group B (3 digits) - nominal size of the working part expressed in hundredths of a millimetre (e.g., 0.60 mm = 060).
  • Group C (2 digits) - taper of the working part (expressed as % per mm), with codes for normal, no taper, variable, negative and half sizes.
  • Group D (2 digits) - designated length in millimetres, as defined for different instrument categories.
  • Group E (1 digit) - material of the working part (e.g., stainless steel, NiTi, polymer, diamond coated).
  • Group F (1 digit) - handle or shank type (manual plastics, engine‑driven metallic shank low/high speed, ultrasonic threaded, etc.).
• Normative references: ISO 1942 (vocabulary) and ISO 3630‑1 (general requirements) are referenced for terms and definitions.
• Examples and annex: Annex A includes worked examples (e.g., K‑file: code 425 015 02 21 1 1) illustrating real‑world application of the coding rules.

Practical applications and users

• Manufacturers - consistent product identification, labeling, cataloguing and product data interchange.
• Regulatory and compliance teams - standardized descriptions to support conformity assessment and documentation.
• Procurement and inventory managers - easier ordering, stock control and cross‑vendor comparison using a common numeric code.
• Clinicians and dental laboratories - clearer specification of instrument characteristics (size, taper, material, handle type) for clinical selection.
• Standards bodies and researchers - harmonized classification for studies, reporting and cross‑referencing across ISO 3630 parts.

Related standards

• ISO 3630 series (Parts 1–7) - Endodontic instruments (general requirements and specific instrument parts)
• ISO 3630‑1 - General requirements (normative reference)
• ISO 1942 - Dentistry - Vocabulary

Using ISO/TR 3630-6:2023 helps ensure clear, interoperable identification of endodontic instruments across manufacturing, clinical and regulatory workflows - improving traceability, procurement efficiency and product safety in dentistry.

Standards Content (Sample)

TECHNICAL ISO/TR
REPORT 3630-6
First edition
2023-11
Dentistry — Endodontic
instruments —
Part 6:
Numeric coding system
Médecine bucco-dentaire — Instruments d'endodontie —
Partie 6: Système de codification numérique
Reference number
© ISO 2023
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, or required in the context of its implementation, no part of this publication may
be reproduced or utilized otherwise in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, or posting on
the internet or an intranet, without prior written permission. Permission can be requested from either ISO at the address below
or ISO’s member body in the country of the requester.
ISO copyright office
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Phone: [phone]
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Website: www.iso.org
Published in Switzerland
ii
Contents Page
Foreword .iv
Introduction .v
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms and definitions . 1
4 Numeric coding system for endodontic instruments . 1
5 Numeric code for specific characteristics of endodontic instruments .2
5.1 Type of endodontic instrument . 2
5.1.1 General . 2
5.1.2 Cross-sections . 2
5.1.3 Tips . 3
5.1.4 Movement . 4
5.2 Nominal size . 5
5.3 Taper of working part. 5
5.4 Designated length . 6
5.5 Material . 6
5.6 Type of handle or shank . 6
5.7 Examples . 7
Annex A (informative) Examples of instruments with a numeric coding system.8
Bibliography .11
iii
Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards
bodies (ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out
through ISO technical committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which a technical
committee has been established has the right to be represented on that committee. International
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ISO collaborates closely with the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) on all matters of
electrotechnical standardization.
The procedures used to develop this document and those intended for its further maintenance are
described in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1. In particular, the different approval criteria needed for the
different types of ISO document should be noted. This document was drafted in accordance with the
editorial rules of the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2 (see www.iso.org/directives).
ISO draws attention to the possibility that the implementation of this document may involve the use
of (a) patent(s). ISO takes no position concerning the evidence, validity or applicability of any claimed
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Any trade name used in this document is information given for the convenience of users and does not
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For an explanation of the voluntary nature of standards, the meaning of ISO specific terms and
expressions related to conformity assessment, as well as information about ISO's adherence to
the World Trade Organization (WTO) principles in the Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT), see
www.iso.org/iso/foreword.html.
This document was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 106, Dentistry, Subcommittee SC 4, Dental
instruments.
A list of all parts in the ISO 3630 series can be found on the ISO website.
Any feedback or questions on this document should be directed to the user’s national standards body. A
complete listing of these bodies can be found at www.iso.org/members.html.
iv
Introduction
This document replaces the number coding of endodontic instruments of ISO 6360-5 and provides a
modified number coding format.
This document also makes provisions for the information on endodontic instruments in the ISO 3630
series.
v
TECHNICAL REPORT ISO/TR 3630-6:2023(E)
Dentistry — Endodontic instruments —
Part 6:
Numeric coding system
1 Scope
This document specifies a coding system for specific characteristics of endodontic instruments, with a
12-digit code identifying general and specific characteristics of instruments or groups of instruments.
The numerals identify the type of instrument, nominal size, taper, length, working part material, type
and material of handle or shank.
2 Normative references
The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content
constitutes requirements of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For
undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
ISO 1942, Dentistry — Vocabulary
ISO 3630-1, Dentistry — Endodontic instruments — Part 1: General requirements
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the terms and definitions given in ISO 1942 and ISO 3630-1 apply.
ISO and IEC maintain terminology databases for use in standardization at the following addresses:
— ISO Online browsing platform: available at https:// www .iso .org/
— IEC Electropedia: available at https:// www .electropedia .org/
3.1
unspecified
characteristic which is not clearly stated and left to the discretion of the manufacturer
4 Numeric coding system for endodontic instruments
The coding system for endodontic instruments consists of 12 digits in six groups, as follows:
000 000 00 00 0 0
A B C D E F
Table 1 and Figure 1 show the groupings.
Table 1 — Numeric groups
Group Description Subclause
A type of instrument 5.1
B nominal size of the working part 5.2
C taper of the working part 5.3
D designated length of the instrument 5.4
E material of the working part 5.5
F type of handle or shank 5.6
Key
A type of instrument D designated length of the instrument
B nominal size of the working part E material of the working part
C taper of the working part F type of handle or shank
Figure 1 — Coding key
5 Numeric code for specific characteristics of endodontic instruments
5.1 Type of endodontic instrument
5.1.1 General
Group A consists of three digits which identify the type of the instrument as specified in Table 2.
The group is subdivided into three elements, illustrating the cross-section of the active part, the tip of
the instrument and the movement of the instrument during its usage. The movement is the one carried
out by the clinician when using the instrument during an endodontic procedure.
5.1.2 Cross-sections
Digit 1 describes the cross-section of the instrument from “0” to “9”.
Table 2 — Description of the cross-sections of the instrument
Cross-sections
Digit 1 Pictorial illustration Description Example
0 circular cross-section plugger /spreader
1 1 flute H-file
2 flutes, diamond shape or
2 B2 / Enlarger
parallelogram cross-section
3 3 flutes, triangular cross-section K-file / K-reamer
4 flutes, square and
...