510(k) · Cleared
ClearedSterile Sureflex Files and Instruments
Data to Oct 25, 2026 (FDA decisions) Oct 12, 2026 (recalls) Sep 30, 2026 (MAUDE) refreshed weekly
Dentsply Intl. · EFA Handpiece, Belt And/Or Gear Driven, Dental
Cleared on Jun 4, 1997 as substantially equivalent to K951607 (Dentsply Intl., 1995) after a 34-day review. Its family tree reaches back 1 generation to 1995. 1 later device descends from it.
- Decided
- Jun 4, 1997
- Review
- 34 days
- Class
- Class I
- Product code
- EFA
- Recalls
- None
- Predicates
- 1
Its longest line of descent runs back 1 generation to K951607 (1995). 1 later device descends from it, 1 citing it directly.
Most influential descendants
Showing 1 of 1 · See all- K082325Apexum AblatorApexum, Ltd. · 2009 · cites it directly0descendants
View FIG. 1 as a table
Line of descent and top descendants
| Generation | Number | Device | Applicant | Decided | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| −1 | K951607 | Sureflex Files | Dentsply Intl. | 1995 | — |
| 0 (this device) | K971603 | Sterile Sureflex Files and Instruments | Dentsply Intl. | 1997 | — |
| +1 | K082325 | Apexum Ablator | Apexum, Ltd. | 2009 | — |
Descendants by year cleared
| Year cleared | Devices | With a Class I recall |
|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 1 | 0 |
Sources: FDA 510(k) database (decision fields), the FDA summary (predicates and indications), FDA recall and enforcement reports, and MAUDE; processed by 510(k) Report. Verify on FDA.gov · Methodology and accuracy.
Planning a device in EFA? A 510(k) Report weighs predicate choices, recall history and review times for a new device like this one.
Top candidate predicates for a new EFA device
- #1 K192809 Dental Handpiecescore 3.5 · 3 generations · no Class I recall
What was it cleared against? (1)
Devices the submitter claimed this one is substantially equivalent to (*), and reference devices cited for a specific test or feature (†), as written in the FDA summary.
| Type | Number | Device | Decided |
|---|---|---|---|
| * | K951607 | Sureflex FilesSummary page 1…AND INSTRUMENTS COMMON OR USUAL NAME: Files and Instruments CLASSIFICATION NAME: Dental hand instruments 872.4565 LEGALLY MARKETED DEVICE: Presterilized SureFlex® Files K951607 DEVICE DESCRIPTION: STERILE SUREFLEX® FILES AND INSTRUMENTS are manufactured for DENTSPLY Caulk by DENTSPLY Maillefer®. They are… | 1995 |
What descends from it? (1)
1 later device cites it directly; ranked here by how many devices descend from each in turn.
| Number | Device | Decided | Descendants |
|---|---|---|---|
| K082325 | Apexum Ablator | 2009 | 0 |
Has anything in its family been recalled? (0 Class I)
No FDA recall names this device.
No ancestor or descendant has a Class I recall.
What does this lineage say?
- Its one ancestor has no recall.
- Of its descendants, K082325 (Apexum, Ltd., 2009) has gone furthest, with 0 descendants of its own.
How does its category compare?
All EFA devicesEFA Handpiece, Belt And/Or Gear Driven, Dental: FDA decisions, review times, recalls and adverse event reports over 20 years.
FDA decisions per year · EFA
1in 2020
2026 to Oct 25, outlined.
Median 510(k) review, days · EFA
78in 2009
Receipt to decision; years with fewer than 3 clearances left blank.
Recalls per year · EFA
1in 2010
Class I (0 since 2007) Class II/III not classified
Adverse event reports per year · EFA
4in 2025
MAUDE reports naming product code EFA, not matched to any one device; reports are not rates.
View these four charts as a table
| Year | Decisions | Median 510(k) review, days | Recalls (Class I) | MAUDE reports |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 1 | — | 0 | 1 |
| 2008 | 0 | — | 0 | 17 |
| 2009 | 4 | 78 | 0 | 0 |
| 2010 | 2 | — | 1 | 1 |
| 2011 | 0 | — | 0 | 4 |
| 2012 | 0 | — | 0 | 1 |
| 2013 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 |
| 2014 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 |
| 2015 | 1 | — | 0 | 0 |
| 2016 | 0 | — | 0 | 1 |
| 2017 | 1 | — | 0 | 2 |
| 2018 | 0 | — | 0 | 97 |
| 2019 | 0 | — | 0 | 59 |
| 2020 | 1 | — | 0 | 2 |
| 2021 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 |
| 2022 | 0 | — | 0 | 4 |
| 2023 | 0 | — | 0 | 3 |
| 2024 | 0 | — | 0 | 5 |
| 2025 | 0 | — | 0 | 4 |
| 2026 | 0 | — | 0 | — |
What is it indicated for?
Used to file and shape root canals and to remove necrotic tissue as a means to create a
funnel-shaped cavity.
Indications for use read by OCR from a scanned FDA summary, so letters may be misread. Check the PDF before quoting it.
https://510kreport.com/device/K971603 · printed Nov 4, 2026
Cite this page
510(k) Report. “K971603: Sterile Sureflex Files and Instruments.” Lineage record from FDA 510(k) data and the FDA summary. Updated Nov 3, 2026. Accessed Nov 4, 2026. https://510kreport.com/device/K971603
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Record history
- FDA decision record loaded May 2, 2026
- Summary read Oct 13, 2026 (extraction version 9eaa42aa01ed)
- Lineage and recalls computed Nov 3, 2026
- Page last updated Nov 3, 2026