Apparatus and method for root canal obturation

Abstract

The present invention is directed to root canal obturation in a tooth. In one embodiment, a plug is positioned in a root canal and bonded to the root canal by applying a light-curing adhesive to the canal and exposing the plug to a light source to bond the plug to the root canal. In another embodiment, a carrier is disclosed having an optically transmissive plug portion for insertion into the canal. In still another embodiment, the plug portion of the carrier includes an optical fiber to transmit light from a light source into the plug portion. In still yet another embodiment, a filler material is heated and injected into the root canal in a semi-liquid state and exposed to light to cure the adhesive.

Description

PRIORITY CLAIM[0001]This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 11 / 392,462, filed Mar. 28, 2006; which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 11 / 101,969, filed Apr. 8, 2005; which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 10 / 035,544, filed Dec. 28, 2001 (now U.S. Pat. No. 7,125,254), each of which is hereby incorporated by reference.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The present invention relates to root canal therapy, and more particularly, to an apparatus and method for performing root canal obturation.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]The root canal procedure is a well-known endodontic therapy for the treatment of pulp necrosis, inflammation, and for the retreatment of previously obturated canals that have failed. The procedure generally includes removing at least a portion of the tooth crown to expose the canal system, followed by the extraction of the contents from the one or more canals of the tooth. The canals are then generally subjected to mechan...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0025]In still another example, small particles or pellets of the same resilient material that is disclosed above are formed of an optically transparent or translucent material similar in s

Problems solved by technology

In most instances, complete obturation of the canals is complicated by the internal shape of the canals.

Although the silver point technique is relatively simple and may be relatively quickly administered, a principal disadvantage is that the silver point does not adequately “cork” the apical foramen to create the desired seal.

Further, the technique generally cannot subject the relatively viscous sealer material to sufficient hydrostatic pressure to ensure that all of the irregular spaces and lateral fissures in the interface region are sufficiently filled, since the sealer is generally incapable of adequately migrating into either the irregular spaces, or the minute lateral fissures or accessory canals that radiate outwardly from the root canal passage.

Consequently, the use of silver points in root canal therapy exhibits a relatively high degree of failure, which often necessitates the retreatment of the affected tooth.

Although the foregoing techniques constitute a substantial improvement over the silver point technique, numerous drawbacks still exist.

For example, the introduction of gutta percha points into the canal, either by the vertical or lateral condensation methods discussed above, is generally time consuming, and requires a high degree of skill to ensure that the therapy is successful.

However, the application of excessive force to the gutta percha may cause the tooth to be inadvertently fractured, or otherwise damaged.

In addition, the application of excessive force to the gutta percha material may cause the material, or the sealer to be extruded through the apical foramen and into the surrounding tissue to form an impacted mass of material that may lead to localized irritation, or even inflammation of the periapical tissue.

Still further, the viscous sealer employed is generally unable to fully migrate into minute fissures, or to chemically bond with the tooth or the filler material, as discussed above.

Although using the gutta percha carrier unit, as discussed more fully above, has greatly simplified the process of obturating the root canal, there are additional drawbacks associated with this method.

This pre-fitting procedure is accomplished prior to the actual obturation process, but cannot be performed with the carrier technique.

Further, when retreatment of a root canal is required where the canal has been previously obturated with a carrier unit, the retreatment is more difficult due to the presence of the plastic carrier, which causes the material to be more difficult to remove, since the carrier unit may not dissolve in any of the conventional solvents typically used to remove root canal filling materials.

Accordingly, a significant amount of time may be expended by the operator in removing and repairing the failed treatment.

Although the use of gutta percha has greatly improved the success rate of endodontic treatment, this success relies on the ability of gutta percha to mechanically “plug” the various openings of the canal, since the sealer does not provide bonding or chemo-mechanical adherence between the tooth material and the gutta percha material.

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