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...

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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 s

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