Method for dental root treatment

Abstract

A method is proposed for root treatment of a tooth, by which gutta percha is introduced into the root canal. For this purpose, a gutta percha point (6) is inserted into the root canal and is subjected to pressure and heat by a plugger (5). The gutta percha point (6) is prefabricated with a length that corresponds to the distance of the apex of the root canal from the tip of the plugger (5) inserted as far as possible into the root canal.

Claims

1. A method for dental root treatment by introduction of gutta percha into the root canal, by which method the gutta percha in the root canal is subjected to pressure and heat by a plugger that generates pressure and heat, said method comprising the steps of: first of all, a measurement distance lying between a reference point on the upper margin of the tooth and the apex of the root canal is measured, thereafter, a plugger is inserted as far as possible into the root canal, and its measurement length lying between the reference point and its tip is measured, after removal of the plugger, a gutta percha point is inserted into the root canal, the length of which gutta percha point is at least 1 mm greater than the difference between the measurement distance and the measurement length of the plugger, and which gutta percha point bears with its tip at the apex of the root canal, and the gutta percha point is heated under pressure by means of the plugger inserted again into the root canal.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the heating of the plugger is switched off after a predefined period of time, while the pressure on the gutta percha point is maintained.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein, after sufficient cooling of the gutta percha point, the pressure applied to the latter by the plugger is cancelled and the gutta percha point is briefly heated, and the gutta percha point is then removed.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein a gutta percha point equipped with a sealer is used.

5. Method according to claim 1, wherein the gutta percha point is inserted using a tool equipped with a slide.

6. Method according to claim 1, wherein, after the plugger has been removed, the tooth is filled with gutta percha.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024] The method according to the invention is explained as an illustrative embodiment with reference to the drawings.

[0025] In the drawings:

[0026] FIGS. 1 to 3 show cross sections of a tooth in highly schematic representation, in different stages of the method.

[0027] FIG. 4 shows a tool used in the method.

[0028] Sections through a tooth are only shown purely schematically in the drawings. They serve only to explain the basic concept of the method according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0029] FIG. 1 shows, purely schematically, a cross section of an incisor 1 with only one root canal 2 (pulp), having a tooth body 3, designated as dentine, and enamel. At the start of the method, the tooth body 3 is first of all removed in the region of the crown. Thereafter, the root canal 2 is cleaned mechanically and chemically by a customary technique.

[0030] The distance between a reference point on the upper margin 4 of the tooth 1 and the apex of the root canal 2 is then measured as measurement distance M1. Thereafter, a plugger 5, which is attached to a source of electric current and can be heated by electric current, is pushed as far as possible into the root canal 2. The length between the reference point and the tip of the plugger 5 is then measured as measurement length M2 and recorded. The remaining length M3 of the root canal 2 corresponds to the receiving space for the GP point 6. It is prepared according to the length M3, specifically with an additional length of at least 1 mm. Thereafter, the GP point 6 is inserted into the root canal 2 by means of a tool 7.

[0031] The tool 7 is, for example, an elongate carrier 8 on which a slide 9 is arranged which is displaceable in its longitudinal direction and is displaceable in the direction of the double arrow 10. In the initial state, a contact face in which the GP point 6 can be arranged is present at the tip of the carrier 8. The carrier 8 can be, for example, a tube, which is equipped at its one end with the contact face.

[0032] To position the GP point 6 in the root canal 2, the carrier 8 equipped with the GP point 6 is inserted into said root canal 2, and the GP point 6 is pushed by means of the slide 9 until it has reached its predefined position according to FIG. 3. Thereafter, the carrier 8 is removed. The plugger 5 is then inserted again into the root canal 2 until it bears on the GP point 6. With the current source being switched on, the plugger 5 is then brought into the operating state, as a result of which the GP point 6 is heated under pressure, for example for 3 seconds, to a temperature of 100° C. After a predefined period of time, the heating is discontinued, while the pressure applied to the GP point 6 is maintained until the GP has cooled sufficiently. After the current source has been switched on for a very short time, the GP is pulled out for easy release of the plugger 5 from the root canal 2. The remaining space in the tooth 1 is then filled with GP by a customary technique.