HK1089349A - Integral gutta percha core/cone obturation technique - Google Patents

Description

Integral gutta percha core/cone blocking technique

Technical Field

This invention relates to endodontics and, in particular, to the obturation of the root canal space in a tooth (or the formation of a root canal seal by the use of a sealing material for the sealing tapered tip of the root canal).

Background

Historically, there have been many ways to fill or occlude the root canal space. After the tooth has been completely reshaped and the diseased nerve tissue has been removed, the space needs to be filled to prevent the ingress of impurities from both the top (coronal) and bottom (apical) portions of the root canal. The aim is the sealing of root canal systems. The most common cause of failure of root canals is bacterial contamination either through the procedure or due to minor leakage or impurities. The better the sealing is accomplished, the better the long-term prognosis of the tooth.

Silver blocks were originally used to fill root canal spaces, but the technique was abandoned due to leakage problems associated with their own shape and material. An alternative to this technique is the cold lateral filling of the gutta percha mass by forced condensation.

Gutta percha is a naturally occurring trans-isomer rubber that can itself become caked. Gutta percha is typically made with a tapered cone (e.g., a.02 taper) to ensure a tapered cone with the apex of the root canal of the tooth. Due to its toughness, gutta percha is sometimes inserted as an obturator. The obturator is a sharp instrument with a tapered distal core and a cylindrical handle on the other end. The malleable gutta percha was wrapped around the tapered distal core of the obturator instrument, and manually grasped by the handle. However, manual grasping of the obturator often prevents the delivery of the obturator into the root canal site.

The use of a separate tapered carrier core for introducing gutta percha wrapped around it often results in uneven removal or detachment of the heated gutta percha from the obturator instrument.

Thus, there is a need for an integral one piece gutta percha core/cone of the present invention which acts as its own carrier, which can be firmly attached to a thin layer of cement coating the inner walls of a root canal. The gutta percha core/cone of the present invention is used in ambient conditions, (without the need for heating) and therefore does not detach or shrink.

According to the commercial brand, gutta percha cones contain 18-23% pure gutta percha. The "gutta percha" commonly known in the trade includes waxes, resins, fillers, zinc oxide, barium sulfate, and other known packing materials (cones).

The cold lateral condensation filling technique uses a series of gutta percha cones, sequentially intertwined together, disposed in a large sheet of cement. The original ingredient of the cement was zinc oxide clove oil cement. Although popular, this technique is prone to voids due to lateral condensation filling and inaccurate matching with the root canal wall. Lateral condensation filling has difficulty in achieving a three-dimensional seal of the root canal system.

Yet another variation in the condensation filling process is the use of thermoplastic techniques to heat the gutta percha with a hand tool prior to its insertion into the apical end of the root canal. The rationale behind the use of thermoplastic gutta percha is that heated gutta percha flows and adapts more readily to irregularities in the root canal system. Unfortunately, heated gutta percha flows only a few millimeters and shrinks upon cooling, thereby failing to fill the root canal space that it was intended to fill and seal. Thus, sealants are recommended for all thermoplastic technologies. Although attractive in appearance, heated gutta percha has certain limitations. Shrinkage upon cooling and operational sensitivity are two of the major limitations.

A further development in the obturation process has been the use of alpha phase gutta percha on a carrier (plastic or metal) inside the root canal. The incorporation of gutta percha on a carrier is known as an obturator. The success of this technique is limited by the success of the preparation. If the taper of the preparation is insufficient, the tooth structure will strip (denude) the gutta percha from the carrier, thereby reducing the success of the technique. The carrier with a portion of the gutta percha that has been stripped off increases the risk of bacterial contamination and thus reduces the prognosis.

Recently, endodontics have demonstrated that various heated gutta percha techniques are commonly associated with shrinkage problems. In addition, some of these procedures are technically sensitive when using thermoplastic techniques, and are particularly challenging for the average physician.

There is also the concept of filling the entire root canal with cement or paste, rather than using gutta percha. This method also has various problems such as lack of control over the material, severe shrinkage leading to leakage and bacterial contamination. Repair problems are also a factor if the root canal treatment must be dealt with again.

Furthermore, more recently, the concept of using a single cone of gutta percha with a large amount of cement has been advocated by Ultradent, Inc., along with their ENDOEZE * technology and corresponding endodontic dissection technology (AET) using their ENDO-REZ * resin sealants^TM。

However, the lack of synchronicity between the root canal preparation and the cone is a problem, as well as the cement being inadequate and not well attached to the preparation wall or to the gutta percha itself. Using an UltraDent ENDO-EZE * preparation zone and using ENDO-REZ * resin sealant AET^TMThe technique creates incompatibility between the root canal preparation and the gutta percha used to fill the root canal space. Thus, the lack of an inaccurate match between the preparation and the gutta percha itself results in either an overuse of the cement (which will shrink) or the gutta percha cone becoming lodged in the coronal portion of the root canal and thus failing to reach the end of the root canal preparation intended to be sealed with gutta percha. This leads to leakage and bacterial contamination, thereby reducing the prognosis of the condition.

However, Koch et al and others showed in 1993 that glass ionomer cement in its original formulation provided promise as a single cone cement to contain and seal gutta percha in place within the root canal. Other authors have expressed concern over the bonding of glass ionomer cements to gutta percha. In other words, adhesion to gutta percha is only sufficient, as glass ionomers adhere to dentin better than other sealants. Other concerns are the actual ratio of the amount of cement in the single cone technique, since thick layers of cement shrink more than thin layers of cement. A potential problem is the result of lack of synchronicity between the root canal preparation and the gutta percha cone. For example, one cannot place a.02 taper gutta percha cone into a.04 taper preparation and expect good results. The cone must match the tapered and/or curved preparation of the root canal in a manner as precise as possible.

Moreover, endodontic restoration of the treated tooth must suffer from a lack of synchronization between the root canal preparation and the prepared post. The consequence of this inconsistency is less than ideal retention of the post and weakening of the root when posts of larger size or different shapes are used, thereby compromising the long-term success of the restoration and compromising the tooth.

Another concern with the restoration of the endodontics of the treated tooth is the lack of a proper crown seal. The lack of a three-dimensional seal (at the apex of the gutta percha in the root canal) results in the entry of bacterial elements. Bacterial contamination leads to failure of the root canal and leaves a serious concern in current endodontics.

Disclosure of Invention

It is therefore an object of the present invention to introduce a concept of synchronicity between the gutta percha core/cone and a prepared root canal preparation that exactly matches the prepared root canal preparation. Thus, the matching gutta percha core/cone in combination with the subsequently created glass ionomer cement reduces leakage and achieves a seal to the root canal. The cements and gutta percha of this technology have unique characteristics and designs that are different from the aforementioned processes. In addition, a "TRANSPORTER" is used which is convenient for use in endodontic therapy "^TMThe delivery vehicle delivers (inserts) the gutta percha core/cone into the tooth.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a post system that precisely matches the endodontic preparation to ensure the success of the post and associated restoration.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a system (kit) that creates a plug at the top of the root canal to ensure sealing of the root canal.

In keeping with these objects and others which will become apparent, the present invention takes a basic gutta percha core and changes it to a gutta percha core/cone which acts as a tapered fill cone and as a carrier core for itself. By selectively altering the molecular weight of substances such as gutta percha, the properties of the material can be altered. The molecular weight of gutta percha is modified to create a stiffer cone that acts as its own structural core. Without the need for a separate plastic or metal inner carrier, the gutta percha core/cone would occupy the entire space of the prepared root canal, except for a very small thin layer of sealant between the cone itself and the dentinal wall of the tooth. In addition, the core tip 16mm is preferably a reticulated texture, such as a lattice (slightly three dimensional) to increase surface area and thus retention. In addition to the grid, the texture may also take the form of other surface interruptions such as dimples, stippling, irregular or parallel markings, etc. Other options for reticulation may be to use grit blasting, using particulate materials such as alumina.

The length of the parting line in millimeters is optionally provided on the core/cone. These dividing lines are preferably selectable between thicknesses or may vary in number. For example, a thick line may represent an odd number and a thin line may represent an even number of rows, or vice versa.

In addition, the top of the core/cone is shaped to accommodate TRANSPORTER^TMThe carrier holding portion is a dental appliance for placing gutta percha carried by an obturator into a root canal as disclosed in the applicant's Dennis Brave filed on 2002, 4/16, U.S. patent No. 6,371,764. In Brave' 764, a hook on the end of an elongated hand gripping handle of the obturator grasps the upper cylindrical handle of the obturator core carrying the gutta percha. In the present invention, the clasp grasps the proximal end of a single piece gutta percha core/cone for insertion into a root canal.

This will facilitate the placement of the core/cone into the root canal.

Finally, the gutta percha is preferably selected to withstand cryogenic freezing treatments, thereby slightly increasing the surface area of the core/cone and increasing its retention with the glass ionomer cement. The molecular structure of gutta percha has been altered by cryogenic treatment to allow for more intimate contact between the glass ionomer cement and the gutta percha core. In addition, the cryogenic treatment further increases the rigidity of the gutta percha core/cone, making it easier to place in the curved canal.

In addition to the system concept of the present invention, the gutta percha core/cone is preferably packaged in a separate sealed package, thereby ensuring sterility and reducing potential bacterial contamination.

Another idea of this single core/cone system is to have a different cement as the sealant of choice. Siloxanes such as polymethylvinyl siloxane, as well as methacrylates, and other cement-based resins may be used in the present technique. The cements, epoxies and glass ionomers listed above also meet the requirements of the present technology. For example, synthetic or chemically modified naturally occurring resin sealants may be used. The best mode of the invention is to use a second generation glass ionomer cement that contains properties that ensure positive bonding to dentin and intimate contact with the gutta percha core/cone. In addition, the particular cement includes a zinc component which increases the antimicrobial effectiveness of the sealant (which acts as a sealant).

Briefly, the present invention comprises an endodontic integral one piece gutta percha core/cone which is bonded in three dimensions to a root canal preparation space by a suitable luting agent, preferably a sealer. The lateral root canal will fill more effectively with a sealer that exhibits little or no shrinkage, which is superior to thermoplastic occlusion techniques that produce shrinkage upon cooling. In addition, the sealer is usable in endodontics, such as methacrylates (methacrylates), which in fact expand slightly rather than contract and are therefore better suited than thermoplastic gutta percha for filling the lateral root canals of a root canal.

The gutta percha core/cone includes a handle portion adapted to be grasped by a hand or a hook of a delivery vehicle. A length measuring section adjoins the handle portion with depth markings to indicate when the endodontic one piece core/cone is fully inserted into the root canal. The body of the core/cone includes a conical portion adjacent the length measuring section.

The conical portion is preferably reticulated to increase the surface area and is inserted into the root canal by means of a cement, such as a glass ionomer, which coats the surface area of the conical portion. The reticulation may take any form of texturing, such as intersecting lines of longitudinally intersecting protruding protuberances and grooves, or may take other forms, such as a plurality of individual raised dimples, or sand blasting with a substance such as alumina.

The gutta percha core/cone is optionally cryogenically deep frozen, which increases the bonding with the tapered cone surface area.

The endodontic integral one piece gutta percha core/cone is preferably hermetically sealed.

The core/cone may be provided as a set of cores/cones having a constant tip size and a varying taper, or having a varying tip size and a constant taper.

The column system that mates with the core/cone is designed to mate with a preparation of a tapered.06 taper of a specific size. The post includes an inner root section and a tip that crowns into the ostium of the root canal. The post may be made of any conventional post-like material, such as stainless steel, titanium alloy, fiber composition or ceramic.

It is another object of the present invention to create a three-dimensional crown seal. This can be achieved by combining the self-limiting drill(s) with an associated filler material, such as a glass ionomer or resin filler.

Drawings

The invention will be more readily understood in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a front view of a conical gutta percha core/cone of the present invention which comprises a top, widest cylindrical handle portion followed by optional line markings, and a lower tapered mesh inner root canal portion;

FIGS. 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D, 1E and 1F show a set of six gutta percha cores/cones of the present invention, each marked on its top and on the side surface of each gutta percha core/cone handle with a color scale that fits according to any ISO;

FIG. 2 shows a side view of a gutta percha core/cone of the present invention, which is a mirror image of the front view shown in FIG. 1, showing the handle shape, zone length (depth), and consistency of the tapered inner canal section;

FIGS. 2A, 2B, 2C and 2D are horizontal longitudinal sectional views of the gutta percha core/cone of the present invention as illustrated in FIG. 2, taken along the directional lines "2A-2A", "2B-2B", "2C-2C" and "2D-2D" in FIG. 2 as indicated by the respective arrows, showing the decreasing diameter of the gutta percha core/cone from the apical coronal end to the apical end;

FIG. 3 shows a longitudinal partial cross-sectional view of a root canal preparation of the invention in preparation for the full taper of a gutta percha core/cone insertion seal 06;

FIG. 3A shows a perspective view of a gutta percha core/cone of the present invention having the same length from the root canal bottom end as that shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a length measuring marking on a gutta percha core/cone in accordance with the present invention, preferably having a demarcation length of from 16 to 27 mm;

fig. 4A is a perspective view showing an additional 2mm length of the tip of the cone attached to the gutta percha core/cone of the present invention, starting from the beveled shoulder on the cylindrical handle portion;

fig. 5 is a side view of the attached handle of the gutta percha core/cone of the present invention which comprises the same material as the entire core/cone itself. FIG. 5It is also shown that the handle is precisely machined to fit the TRANSPORTER of the core/cone shown in FIG. 5B^TMA hook of a vehicle hook;

FIG. 5A is a perspective view of a core/cone TRANSPORTER along the handle depending on the gutta percha core/cone of the present invention as shown in FIG. 5^TMA view of a vehicle hook;

FIG. 5B is a top view of a core/cone TRANSPORTER^TMThe carrier hook is clamped tightly within the gutta percha core/cone of the present invention;

FIG. 5C is a top view of the core/cone of the present invention shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 6 is a side elevation view, partially in longitudinal section, showing the core/cone TRANSPORTER^TMThe carrier holds the core/cone of the invention and inserts the core/cone into the mouth of the prepared root canal;

FIG. 6A is a side elevation view, partially in longitudinal section, showing the core/cone TRANSPORTER^TMHooks of the delivery vehicle the gutta percha core/cone of the present invention has been placed into the prepared root canal;

FIG. 6B is a side view in partial longitudinal section showing the core/cone TRANSPORTER^TMThe hooks of the delivery vehicle release the grip on the gutta percha core/cone of the present invention and exit the treatment area;

FIG. 6C is a side elevational view, partially in longitudinal section, showing the handle and crown cauterized and severed from the gutta percha core/cone of the present invention; leaving the lower end sealed in the root canal preparation area;

FIG. 6D is a side elevational view, partially in longitudinal section, of another embodiment showing the handle and crown having been cauterized and severed from the gutta percha core/cone of the present invention; leaving the inferior end sealed in the root canal preparation, wherein a prepared space is worked in the coronal direction of the filled root canal and thereafter filled and covered atop the filled root canal space with a bonding restorative material;

FIG. 6E is a side view, partially in longitudinal section, of the alternative embodiment shown in FIG. 6D, showing the previously prepared and prepared space in the coronal direction of the filled root canal filled and overlaid atop the filled root canal space by an adhesive restorative material;

FIG. 6F is a side elevation view, partly in longitudinal section, of yet another alternative embodiment showing a post/core for a proper restoration of the processed space in the tooth;

figure 6G is a side view, partially in longitudinal section, of the further alternative embodiment shown in figure 6F showing the post used to fill the root canal space having been finished to remove any irregular surfaces that might prevent the post from being fully inserted;

FIG. 6H is a side view of the post inserted in yet another alternative embodiment as shown in FIG. 6G, with the sloped portion shown in phantom lines;

FIG. 6J is a side view of the post as shown in FIG. 6H, shown inserted and modified to form an angled head for use as a retention device for a core collected within a restored tooth;

fig. 7 shows a package of a gutta percha core/cone of the present invention in the form of a single sealed sterile package, partially broken away to expose the gutta percha core/cone;

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view through a simulated Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) of a tiny portion of the invention showing the simultaneous bulk effect between a tooth (such as dentin), a sealant (such as a glass ionomer cement) and a cryogenically treated gutta percha core/cone of the present invention;

fig. 9 is a side cross-sectional view of a tooth showing multiple lateral canals occluded with a sealer following insertion of the core/cone.

Detailed Description

As shown in fig. 1-9, the one-piece unitary gutta percha core/cone 10 has three distinct structural components, all of which are produced from the same material, such as gutta percha.

Core/coneThe top (proximal) end of the tube 10 includes a handle portion 12. The handle 12 is machined to precisely fit the core/cone TRANSPORTER shown in FIG. 5B^TMA hook 4 of the vehicle. This precise fit prevents the handle 12, and thus the core/cone 10, from rotating or moving as it is moved toward and inserted into the root canal 2 of the prepared tooth 1.

The core/cone 10 is inserted into the root canal 2 so as to seal the entire portion thereof below its upper orifice 2a, the upper portion of the orifice 2a comprising the upper cavity 2b of the tooth 1, this cavity 2b being filled with the dental colored resin and the associated coronal cylindrical product (not shown).

Handle 12 allows transporterter^TMThe vehicle 4 performs its function and the vehicle 4 facilitates the placement of the one-piece integral gutta percha core/cone 10 into the root canal 2 of the tooth 1 without the risk of mis-insertion.

Alternatively, but preferably, the length determination section 14 (with depth markings 14a) is another component of the gutta percha core/cone 10, and the section of depth markings 14a preferably has measurement markings, such as thick lines for odd lengths and thin lines for even lengths, or vice versa. The length ranges from 16mm at the first thick line 14 to 27mm at the last thick line 14a adjacent the handle portion 12 of the core/cone 10. An additional 2 millimeters is available and can be seen extending proximally from the indicator mark 14a up to the beveled shoulder portion 16 of the cylindrical handle 12 at the proximal end of the tapered section 18 of the core/cone 10 of the present invention.

The third segment of the gutta percha core/cone is a reticulated framework 20 from the most distal portion (distal tip 22 of core/cone 10) to a 16mm line demarcation point 24. The network 20 of distinct random textures 20a is the portion of the core/cone 10 that is normally located within the root canal 2 and has its surface reticulated to increase the surface area and thus the retention of the luting agent sealer 8, preferably a glass ionomer cement, to the core/cone 10.

In this connection, as shown in the simulated Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) depicted in fig. 8, the sealant 8 is preferably applied in a very small thin layer between the outside of the tapered portion of the core/cone 10 and the dentinal material defining the root canal space. For example, the sealant 8 is typically applied to fill the space, and the sealant 8 is typically about, but not limited to, from about.01 mm to 1.0mm, except for naturally occurring irregularities deviating from the dimensions described above, which also are filled by the sealant 8.

Further adhesion may be obtained from cryogenic treatment of the gutta percha core/cone 10.

TRANSPORTER^TMThe carrier 4 is a holding device that facilitates accurate insertion of the core/cone 10 into the root canal 2. In addition to contributing to the improved accuracy of the above-described operation, TRANSPORTER^TMThe delivery vehicle 4 also aids the clinician in inserting the gutta percha core/cone 10 into the root canal 2 of all teeth without fear of misdirection and consequent peeling of the luting agent sealer 8, such as cement, from the core/cone 10.

Another option for the system of the present invention is the cryogenic treatment of gutta percha used to fabricate the core/cone 10, but this is not the only preferred feature. This cryogenic treatment increases the hardness of the gutta percha and increases the surface area of the gutta percha core/cone 10 through the deep freezing process, resulting in a more intimate contact between the luting agent sealer 8 (such as a glass ionomer cement) and the core/cone 10. The result is an increased holding force.

Low temperature changes the molecular structure of the compound to a martensitic state that is superior to the retained austenite state. Thus, a coating such as the sealant 8 has a greater affinity for the martensite state than for the austenite state. The result is a greater bond of the gutta percha core/cone 10 to the luting agent sealer 8.

The clinical application of this technique involves the preparation of a prepared area of all.03 to.08 tapers, preferably a.04 or.06 prepared area in the root canal space 2. The machined preparation is obtained by the use of a series of rotary files that prepare the root canal in a predictable and continuous manner and produce a fully tapered preparation (.03-.08 mm). Examples of files that make a fully tapered preparation are the PROFILE of Dentsply Tulsa Dental and K-3 of SybronEndo. With all instruments and debridement, a suitable size gutta percha core/cone 10 is selected. For example, ifThe final preparation is a machined full taper.06, preparation for the tip size "20" (ISO), then a "20/. 06" gutta percha core/cone is selected. With the core/cone selected, a suitable sealant 8 such as cement is mixed (glass ionomer) and inserted into the root canal 2, forming a thin layer of sealant (cement) 8. The selected gutta percha core/cone 10 is then partially exposed to its sealed packaging element 6 and is transported^TMThe vehicle 4 grips. Then is transported by TRANSPORTER^TMThe carrier 4 is removed from the sterile packaging element which is kept sterile. The selected sealer (root canal sealer) 8 is then also placed over the gutta percha core/cone 10, particularly over the reticulated region 20 (apical 16mm) of the core/cone 10. It is recommended that the gutta percha core/cone 10 be coated with the sealer 8 (cement) by gently applying the mixed sealer 8.

The gutta percha core/cone 10 is now taken and inserted into the prepared root canal 2, up to the appropriate depth mark. After a few minutes, the lower tapered portion of the set gutta percha core/cone 10 is separated from the cylindrical handle 12 and length marking section 14 at the orifice 2a of the root canal 2 with a heated instrument, and then a slight longitudinal condensation pressure is applied to the gutta percha core/cone 10.

FIGS. 6D and 6E show another embodiment for crown sealing further assured by replacing the covering 32 of the bonded restorative material, wherein the covering 32 is as in Applicant's "ENDO-KAP^TM"or" ENDO-SEAL^TM", the restorative material may be any dentinal restorative material, such as a glass ionomer or bonding resin, placed into a prepared flute section 30, the flute section 30 being formed by removing the gutta percha core/cone material from the space of the apical coronal portion of the filled root canal occupied by the severed gutta percha core/cone 10. This will prevent leakage and bacterial contamination of the coronal portion of the root canal filling and further prevent the need for reprocessing due to secondary bacterial invasion.

Furthermore, in the case where the post/core shown in fig. 6F is used for the desired restoration of a tooth 3, the present invention includes a post system with post 40 as shown in fig. 6H that mates with the fully tapered endodontic preparation of root canal 4 of tooth 3, such that synchronization is maintained between the preparation of root canal 4 and post 40 (e.g., the tapered post of. 06 matches the tapered endodontic preparation of. 06). A variable gutta percha segment 42 located inside the root canal 4, below the post 40, is placed to the tip of the post 40, which ensures tip sealing and prevents contamination of the tip of the tooth 3. The fully tapered post 40 is cemented with a sealant such as a glass ionomer or a resin based sealer and the coronal section of the post 40 in fig. 6H is covered with a coronal buildup material 44. The post/core healing result of post 40 and core buildup material 44, shown in fig. 6J, ensures reasonable retention of the crown and also acts as another crown seal against microleakage.

Another option is to use a planing tool to shape the preparation as of.06 in the case of important surface irregularities, such as a curve in the root canal as shown in figure 6F, for example, in such a way as to accommodate a tapered rigid post 40 as shown in figure 6G, thereby ensuring or achieving synchronisation between the preparation of the root canal 4 and the cemented post 40.

As shown in fig. 9, an endodontic integral one piece gutta percha core/cone 10, in combination with a suitable luting agent 8, rationally seals the root canal 6 of a tooth 5 and the prepped space of the lateral root canal 7 extending from the root canal 6 in a three-dimensional manner. The lateral canals 7 are effectively filled with a seal 8, the seal 8 being less or not constricted relative to the thermoplastic obturation technique which constricts upon cooling. Sealer 8, such as methacrylate, expands or contracts slightly, filling lateral root canals 7 of root canal 6 more successfully than thermoplastic gutta percha.

The operation and advantages of the invention are as follows:

gutta percha core/cone technology is an advance in endodontics that facilitates the occlusion of root canal spaces by all clinicians. The synchronicity between the exact fit shown by the prepared area of the root canal 2 machined to a.03 to.08, preferably.04 or.06, and the proper gutta percha core/cone 10 allows the dentist to obtain an exact fit in the endodontic procedure as one in the industry. The result of this technique is that clinicians can now not only fill root canals 2 faster (thereby saving patient time), but they can fill better with a true three-dimensional sensation. Because of the precise fit, the cement layer of the luting agent sealer 8 between the gutta percha core/cone 10 and the tooth structure 1 (the inner sidewall of the root canal 2) is very thin. The thin cement layer of the sealant 8 is less likely to shrink than heated gutta percha, which shrinks significantly upon cooling. In addition, when the interior of the root canal is properly loaded with a chelating agent, such as ETDA, the dentinal tubules and lateral canals open sufficiently to allow a sealer (sealer) to fill their spaces. The result is a better bond (retention) between the gutta percha and the dentinal wall, and a more effective occlusion of the lateral canal. Thus, the technique of using a gutta percha core/cone is more closely related to the goal of achieving an accurate seal than any other prior art method.

The unique design characteristics of the gutta percha core/cone 10, together with the features realized by the core/cone 10 being subjected to cryogenic treatment, make this technique even more advantageous.

The handle design of the core/cone 10 is unique and makes the integral one-piece gutta percha core/cone 10 easier to place into the prepared root canal 2 of the tooth 1. The handle 12 is also made of the same gutta percha material (as the rest of the core/cone 10) and thus does not require a separate hard core wrapped with gutta percha that may not be stably bonded. This is important because of the tackiness of the sealant.

The reticulated textured surface area 20 (such as a lattice structure or other dimpled texture and the like) increases the surface area and provides greater retention of the sealant 8, e.g., cement, to the core/cone 10. This unique configuration increases the bond between the sealant (e.g., cement) 8 and the core/cone 10 while forming a mechanical lock.

The rational choice of cryogenic treatment of the core/cone material (gutta percha) creates advantages previously unexpected with gutta percha. By increasing the hardness of the gutta percha, the cryogenic treatment allows the gutta percha core/cone 10 to better conform to the viscosity of the sealants (cements) associated with the present technology. The stiffer gutta percha can be pre-bent into a single piece integral gutta percha core/cone 10 without the need for a separate stiffer carrier core, and this feature helps to "occlude" more complex root canal tissue. The harder gutta percha is also easier for the clinician to manipulate while inserting into the root canal space, thereby maintaining the integrity of the gutta percha core/cone 10.

The optional length markings 14 on the gutta percha core/cone 10 will help to accurately position the core/cone 10 within the canal 2 and help to ensure the success of the procedure. The packaging of each core/cone 10 within a single wrapper 6 helps to reduce bacterial contamination during the root canal space 2 occlusion procedure. Due to this aseptic technique, the occlusion procedure has a better prognosis.

It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that what is claimed is within the scope of the invention.

Claims

(modification according to article 19 of the treaty)

1. An endodontic integral one piece gutta percha core/cone capable of sealing a root canal preparation area comprising:

a reticulated cone core/cone segment for increasing surface area and adapted to fill a root canal.

2. The endodontic integral one piece gutta percha core/cone as in claim 1 which is reticulated by texturing attached thereto.

3. The endodontic integral one piece gutta percha core/cone as in claim 1 which is reticulated by a lattice frame attached thereto.

4. The endodontic integral one piece gutta percha core/cone as in claim 1 which is reticulated by a surface discontinuity affixed thereto, said surface discontinuity comprising at least one of dimples, stippling, irregular serrations, and/or parallel serrations.

5. The endodontic integral one piece gutta percha core/cone as in claim 1 which is reticulated by abrasive blasting affixed thereto by operative contact with a particulate material.

6. The endodontic integral one piece gutta percha core/cone as in claim 1 wherein said particulate material is alumina.

7. The endodontic integral one piece gutta percha core/cone as in claim 1, further comprising:

a rounded handle portion on the proximal end of the endodontic integral one piece core/cone made of gutta percha and adapted to be gripped by a carrier hook.

8. The endodontic integral one piece gutta percha core/cone as in claim 1 wherein said core/cone handle is cylindrical.

9. The endodontic integral one piece gutta percha core/cone as in claim 1, further comprising a length measuring section adjacent to said handle portion having a depth marking for indicating the depth of insertion when said endodontic integral one piece gutta percha core/cone is fully inserted into the root canal.

10. The endodontic integral one piece gutta percha core/cone as in claim 9 in which said depth markings on said length measuring section are comprised of a thick line representing an odd length and a thin line representing an even length.

11. The endodontic integral one piece gutta percha core/cone as in claim 9 in which said depth markings on said length measuring section are comprised of a thick line representing an even length and a thin line representing an odd length.

12. The endodontic integral one piece gutta percha core/cone as in claim 1, further comprising:

a thin layer of sealant applied to the surface area of the conical section for reducing shrinkage thereof.

13. The endodontic integral one piece gutta percha core/cone as in claim 12 in which said thin layer of a luting agent coating is a cement.

14. The endodontic integral one piece gutta percha core/cone as in claim 12 in which said thin layer of a luting agent coating is a glass ionomer.

15. The endodontic integral one piece gutta percha core/cone as in claim 14 in which said glass ionomer is a glass ionomer cement of a polyalkenoic acid.

16. The endodontic integral one piece gutta percha core/cone as in claim 13 in which said cement is a modified resin.

17. The endodontic integral one piece gutta percha core/cone as in claim 13 in which said cement is polymethylmethacrylate.

18. The endodontic integral one piece gutta percha core/cone as in claim 17 wherein said methyl methacrylate is Urethane Dimethacrylate (UDMA).

19. The endodontic integral one piece gutta percha core/cone as in claim 17 wherein said methyl methacrylate is bisglycidyl methacrylate (BIS-GMA).

20. The endodontic integral one piece gutta percha core/cone as in claim 12 in which said thin layer of a luting agent coating is a resin.

21. The endodontic integral one piece gutta percha core/cone as in claim 12 in which said thin layer of a luting agent coating is a sealer.

22. The endodontic integral one piece gutta percha core/cone as in claim 12 in which said thin layer of a luting agent coating is a silicone.

23. The endodontic integral one piece gutta percha core/cone as in claim 1 which is cryogenically deep frozen.

24. The endodontic integral one piece gutta percha core/cone as in claim 1 sized to fit a specially prepared root canal space.

25. The endodontic integral one piece gutta percha core/cone as in claim 1, in which said conical segment has an optional taper in the range of.03 millimeters (mm) to.08 mm (mm), said taper being measured one millimeter (mm) up each longitudinal millimeter (mm) from the distal point of said integral one piece gutta percha core/cone.

26. The endodontic integral one piece gutta percha core/cone as in claim 25, in which said conical section has an optional taper in the range of.04 millimeters (mm) to.06 millimeters (mm), said taper being measured every longitudinal millimeter (mm) upward from the distal point of said integral one piece gutta percha core/cone.

27. The endodontic integral one piece gutta percha core/cone as in claim 1 packaged individually within a seal.

28. The endodontic integral one piece gutta percha core/cone as in claim 1 which is provided in the form of a unitized core/cone having a constant tip size and a variable taper.

29. The endodontic integral one piece gutta percha core/cone as in claim 1 which is provided in the form of a unitized core/cone having a variable tip size and a constant taper.

30. The endodontic integral one piece gutta percha core/cone as in claim 1 further comprising an endodontic coronal seal capable of preventing leakage and bacterial contamination of the filled root canal coronal portion and avoiding the need for reprocessing due to secondary bacterial infiltration, said endodontic coronal seal comprising a solid block covering of an cemented restorative material disposed to the prepared section of the coronal portion atop the filled root canal space.

31. An endodontic integral one piece gutta percha core/cone comprising a surface treatment of gutta percha wherein said gutta percha is coated with a coupling agent.

32. The gutta percha core/cone as in claim 31 wherein said coupling agent is an organosilane.

33. The gutta percha core/cone as in claim 32 wherein said coupling agent is 3-methoxy-propyl-trimethoxy-silane.

34. The gutta percha core/cone as in claim 31 further comprising a chemical sealer.

35. The gutta percha core/cone as in claim 31 further comprising a cement sealer.

36. The gutta percha core/cone as in claim 31 further comprising a sealer comprising a glass ionomer cement.

37. The gutta percha core/cone as in claim 36 wherein said glass ionomer cement is a glass ionomer cement of a polyalkenoic acid.

38. The gutta percha core/cone as in claim 36 wherein said cement is a modified resin.

39. The gutta percha core/cone as in claim 36 wherein said cement is polymethylmethacrylate.

40. The gutta percha core/cone as in claim 39 wherein said methyl methacrylate is Urethane Dimethacrylate (UDMA).

41. The gutta percha core/cone as in claim 39 wherein said methyl methacrylate is bisglycidyl methacrylate (BIS-GMA).

42. An endodontic integral one piece gutta percha core/cone comprising a rounded handle portion on a proximal end of an endodontic integral one piece core/cone made of gutta percha that is adapted to be gripped by a hook of a delivery device.

43. The endodontic integral one piece gutta percha core/cone as in claim 42 in which said circular handle of said core/cone is cylindrical and said carrier hook comprises a pair of circular jaw members engaging said cylindrical handle.

44. An endodontic integral one piece gutta percha core/cone capable of sealing a root canal preparation, comprising:

a gutta percha cone/cone segment suitable for filling a root canal, the gutta percha cone segment being cryogenically deep frozen.

45. A method of filling and sealing a root canal, comprising the steps of:

a) measuring the depth of the root canal by taking the root canal apex as a reference point;

b) selecting an endodontic integral one piece gutta percha core/cone made of gutta percha appropriately sized to the root canal, said endodontic integral one piece gutta percha core/cone including a handle portion made of gutta percha and adapted to be gripped by a carrier hook at a proximal end of said endodontic integral one piece gutta percha core/cone, a length measuring section adjacent to said handle portion having a depth marking for indicating an insertion depth when said endodontic integral one piece gutta percha core/cone is fully inserted into the root canal, a conical section adjacent to said length measuring section terminating at a distal point of said endodontic integral one piece gutta percha core/cone, said conical section being shaped like a mesh for increasing a surface area and adapted to fill the root canal;

c) coating the conical section of the core with a thin layer of sealant;

d) coating the inside of the root canal with the sealant;

e) inserting the endodontic integral one piece gutta percha core/cone into a root canal of a tooth until a suitable depth mark is made;

f) the cement is applied to the bone for a sufficient period of time and the endodontic integral one piece gutta percha core/cone is severed at the root canal orifice.

46. The method of claim 45, wherein the sealant coating is an adhesive.

47. The method of claim 45, wherein the sealant thin layer coating is a glass ionomer.

48. The method of claim 45, wherein the glass ionomer is a glass ionomer cement of polyalkenoic acid.

49. The method of claim 48, wherein the cement is a modified resin.

50. The method of claim 48, wherein the cement is polymethyl methacrylate.

51. The method of claim 50, wherein the methyl methacrylate is Urethane Dimethacrylate (UDMA).

52. The method of claim 50, wherein the methyl methacrylate is bisglycidyl methacrylate (BIS-GMA).

53. A method according to claim 45, wherein the thin layer of sealant material is a resin.

54. The method of claim 45, wherein the sealant layer coating is a sealant.

55. The method of claim 45, wherein the thin layer of sealant material is a silicone.

56. The method of claim 45, wherein the handle portion of the endodontic integral one piece gutta percha core/cone is gripped by the hooks of the carriage to maneuver the endodontic integral one piece gutta percha core/cone into the root canal.

57. The method of claim 45, wherein the endodontic integral one piece gutta percha core/cone is cryogenically frozen prior to applying the cement.

Claims (35)

1. An endodontic integral one piece gutta percha core/cone capable of sealing a root canal preparation, comprising:

a reticulated cone segment for increasing surface area and adapted to fill a root canal.

2. The endodontic integral one piece gutta percha core/cone as in claim 1, further comprising:

a handle portion on the distal end of the endodontic integral one piece gutta percha core/cone made of gutta percha and adapted to be gripped by a vehicle hook.

3. The endodontic integral one piece gutta percha core/cone as in claim 2 further comprising a length measuring section adjacent to said handle portion having a depth marking for indicating the depth of insertion when said endodontic integral one piece gutta percha core/cone is fully inserted into the root canal.

4. The endodontic integral one piece gutta percha core/cone as in claim 3 in which said depth markings on said length measuring section are comprised of a thick line representing an odd length and a thin line representing an even length.

5. The endodontic integral one piece gutta percha core/cone as in claim 3 in which said depth markings on said length measuring section are comprised of a thick line representing an even length and a thin line representing an odd length.

6. The endodontic integral one piece gutta percha core/cone as in any preceding claim further comprising:

a thin layer of sealant applied to the surface area of the conical section for reducing shrinkage thereof.

7. The endodontic integral one piece gutta percha core/cone as in claim 6 in which said thin layer of a luting agent coating is a cement.

8. The endodontic integral one piece gutta percha core/cone as in claim 6 in which said thin layer of a luting agent coating is a glass ionomer.

9. The endodontic integral one piece gutta percha core/cone as in claim 8 in which said glass ionomer is a glass ionomer cement of a polyalkenoic acid.

10. The endodontic integral one piece gutta percha core/cone as in claim 7 in which said cement is a modified resin.

11. The endodontic integral one piece gutta percha core/cone as in claim 7 in which said cement is polymethylmethacrylate.

12. The endodontic integral one piece gutta percha core/cone as in claim 11 in which said methyl methacrylate is Urethane Dimethacrylate (UDMA).

13. The endodontic integral one piece gutta percha core/cone as in claim 11 wherein said methyl methacrylate is bisglycidyl methacrylate (BIS-GMA).

14. The endodontic integral one piece gutta percha core/cone as in claim 6 in which said thin layer of a luting agent coating is a resin.

15. The endodontic integral one piece gutta percha core/cone as in claim 6 in which said thin layer of a luting agent coating is a sealer.

16. The endodontic integral one piece gutta percha core/cone as in claim 6 in which said thin layer of a luting agent coating is a silicone.

17. The endodontic integral one piece gutta percha core/cone as in any preceding claim which is cryogenically deep frozen.

18. The endodontic integral one piece gutta percha core/cone as in any preceding claim sized to fit a specially prepared root canal space.

19. The endodontic integral one piece gutta percha core/cone as in any preceding claim wherein said conical segment has an optional taper in the range of.03 millimeters (mm) to.08 mm (mm), said taper being measured one millimeter (mm) up each longitudinal millimeter (mm) from the distal point of said integral one piece gutta percha core/cone.

20. The endodontic integral one piece gutta percha core/cone as in claim 19, in which said conical section has an optional taper in the range of.04 millimeters (mm) to.06 millimeters (mm), said taper being measured every longitudinal millimeter (mm) upward from the distal point of said integral one piece gutta percha core/cone.

21. The endodontic integral one piece gutta percha core/cone as in any preceding claim individually packaged within a seal.

22. The endodontic integral one piece gutta percha core/cone as in any preceding claim which is provided in the form of a unitized core/cone having a constant tip size and a variable taper.

23. The endodontic integral one piece gutta percha core/cone as in any preceding claim which is provided in the form of a unitized core/cone having a variable tip size and a constant taper.

24. A synchronized method of filling and sealing a root canal, comprising the steps of:

a) measuring the depth of the root canal by taking the root canal apex as a reference point;

b) selecting an endodontic integral one piece gutta percha core/cone made of a suitable size of gutta percha for said root canal, said endodontic integral one piece gutta percha core/cone comprising a handle portion made of gutta percha and adapted to be grasped by a vehicle hook at a proximal end of said endodontic integral one piece gutta percha core/cone, a length measuring section adjacent to said handle portion having a depth marking for indicating an insertion depth when said endodontic integral one piece gutta percha core/cone is fully inserted into the root canal, a conical section adjacent to said length measuring section terminating at a distal point of said endodontic integral one piece core/cone, said reticulated conical section for increasing a surface area and adapted to fill the root canal;

c) coating the conical section of the core with a thin layer of sealant;

d) coating the inside of the root canal with the sealant;

e) inserting the endodontic integral one piece gutta percha core/cone into a root canal of a tooth until a suitable depth mark is made;

f) the cement is applied to the bone for a sufficient period of time and the endodontic integral one piece core/cone is severed at the root canal orifice.

25. A method according to claim 24, wherein the sealant is as defined in claims 7 to 16.

26. The method of claim 24 or 25, wherein the handle portion of the endodontic integral one-piece core/cone is gripped by a vehicle hook to maneuver the endodontic integral one-piece core/cone into the root canal.

27. The method of any one of claims 24 to 26, wherein the endodontic integral one piece core/cone is cryogenically frozen prior to applying the cement.

28. An endodontic coronal seal capable of preventing leakage and bacterial contamination of a filled root canal coronal portion and avoiding the need for reprocessing due to secondary bacterial infiltration includes a solid block covering of an adhesive restorative material disposed to a prepared section of the coronal portion atop a filled root canal space.

29. An endodontic integral one piece gutta percha core/cone comprising a surface treated gutta percha wherein said gutta percha is coated with a coupling agent.

30. The gutta percha core/cone as in claim 29 wherein said coupling agent is an organosilane.

31. The gutta percha core/cone as in claim 30 wherein said coupling agent is 3-methoxy-propyl-trimethoxy-silane.

32. The gutta percha core/cone as in any one of claims 29 to 31 further comprising a chemical sealer.

33. The gutta percha core/cone as in any one of claims 29 to 31 further comprising an adhesive sealant.

34. The gutta percha core/cone as in any one of claims 29 to 31 further comprising a sealer comprising a glass ionomer cement.

35. The gutta percha core/cone as in claim 34 wherein said glass ionomer cement is as defined in any one of claims 9 to 13.