This short note highlights the need for standardization regarding endodontic shaping systems, able to predict their remaining functional life. The objective is to reduce the risk of failure by optimally deciding the time in which the shaping instrument must be substituted. This approach is much used in industry and especially inexpensive machines with a well-rooted and largely developed discipline known as predictive maintenance. When universal standardization succeeded in the fatigue tests of shaping instruments, any technique used today in predictive maintenance of the remaining functional life of rotary instruments can be easily adapted for this purpose. Possible failure modes of each instrument should be identified using a failure mode effect analysis (FMEA) that is today's standard. Also, for each of such possible models, the most informative variables to monitor must be detected, as well as how they will be monitored, and finally, a prediction of the lifespan according to specific tests for each failure mode of each specific sort of instrument or alloy. The letter purely focused on the need for failure model standardization as an essential prerequisite. The letter also includes very general and well-known comments for predictive maintenance.