Gold Heat Treatment

Gold heat treatment is a proprietary thermal process developed by Dentsply Sirona that raises the austenite finish temperature (Af) above 37°C, placing the alloy predominantly in the martensite phase at body temperature. Martensitic NiTi is significantly more flexible than austenitic NiTi, reducing lateral forces on canal walls and cutting resistance. Laboratory (bench) studies have reported Gold-treated files to offer roughly two to four times greater cyclic fatigue resistance than conventional M-Wire instruments, and they are often selected for severely curved canals. The characteristic gold surface color results from a thin oxide layer formed during heat treatment.