Nickel-Titanium
Also written as: NiTi — Nickel-Titanium
A superelastic metal alloy used to manufacture endodontic files and instruments, prized for its flexibility and resistance to cyclic fatigue in curved canals.
Full Definition
Nickel-titanium (NiTi) is an alloy composed of approximately equiatomic proportions of nickel and titanium that exhibits superelasticity and shape-memory properties. In endodontics, NiTi files have largely supplanted stainless steel for canal shaping because they negotiate curvatures with significantly lower risk of ledging or transportation. Editors should hyphenate 'nickel-titanium' as a compound modifier and use the abbreviation 'NiTi' (not 'NITI' or 'Ni-Ti') on second reference unless journal style differs. The term 'rotary NiTi' is acceptable on second reference.
Usage
Usage note: Hyphenate the full form as 'nickel-titanium'. Abbreviate as 'NiTi' (mixed case). 'Nitinol' is a trade-influenced informal synonym best avoided in formal clinical writing.
In Context
- "Nickel-titanium rotary files reduced operative time compared with stainless steel hand instruments." — Randomised controlled trial abstract
- "Heat treatment of NiTi alloys has improved cyclic fatigue resistance significantly." — Materials science review