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 i,n a semi-liquid state and exposed to light to cure the adhesive.

1 . A plug for implantation into an endodontically prepared root canal of a tooth, comprising: 
 an elongated body comprised of a biologically compatible, resilient material having a distal end and a proximal end and having a length to allow the distal end to be positioned adjacent to an apical portion of the tooth when the body is inserted in the root canal of the tooth, the body being adapted to substantially abut the walls of the root canal of the tooth and extend to the apical portion of the root canal when implanted, the plug being further comprised of a material that is optically transmissive and fully polymerized prior to insertion into the root canal of the tooth.    
   
   
       2 . The plug according to  claim 1  wherein the optically transmissive material further comprises an optically transparent material.  
   
   
       3 . The plug according to  claim 1  wherein the optically transmissive material further comprises an optically translucent material.  
   
   
       4 . The plug according to  claim 1  wherein the elongated body further comprises an elongated body that tapers from the proximal end to the distal end.  
   
   
       5 . The plug according to  claim 1  wherein the material further comprises a material selected from the group consisting of silicones, polyethylenes, polyurethanes, polytetraflouroethylenes, polymethylmethacrylates (PMMA) and polytetraflourethyenes (PTFE).  
   
   
       6 . The plug according to  claim 1  wherein the material is further comprised of a radio-opacifier.  
   
   
       7 . The plug according to  claim 6  wherein the radio-opacifier is comprised of a barium compound.  
   
   
       8 . The plug according to  claim 6  wherein the radio-opacifier is comprised of a bismuth compound.  
   
   
       9 . (canceled)  
   
   
       10 . (canceled)  
   
   
       11 . (canceled)  
   
   
       12 . The plug according to  claim 1  wherein the material is further comprised of one component of a two component bonding system.  
   
   
       13 . (canceled)  
   
   
       14 . A carrier for root canal obturation in an endodontically prepared tooth, comprising: 
 an elongated plug portion comprised of a biologically implantable, resilient material having a distal end and a proximal end and having a length to allow the distal end to be positioned adjacent to an apical portion of the tooth when the plug portion is implanted in the root canal of the tooth, the distal end extending to the apical portion and a major portion of the outer surface of the plug abutting the walls of the root canal when the plug is implanted, the plug portion comprised of a material that is optically transmissive and fully polymerized prior to insertion into the root canal of the tooth; and    an elongated support portion having a first end coupled to the proximal end of the plug portion and an opposing second end.    
   
   
       15 - 22 . (canceled)  
   
   
       23 . The carrier of  claim 14 , further comprising: 
 an optical fiber embedded in the plug portion that extends at least a partially along the length of the plug portion, the fiber further extending outwardly from the proximal end of the plug portion.    
   
   
       24 . The carrier according to  claim 23  wherein the support portion further includes an interior passage that extends from the first end to the second end, and the optical fiber extends along the interior passage.  
   
   
       25 . A method for obturating a root canal passage in a tooth, comprising: 
 applying an adhesive to the root canal passage;    implanting a plug into the root canal passage, the plug being in a fully polymerized condition prior to implanting the plug into the root canal passage, a major portion of an outer surface of the plug abutting internal surfaces of the root canal passage, the plug extending to an apical portion of the root canal when implanted; and    curing the adhesive.    
   
   
       26 . (canceled)  
   
   
       27 . The method according to  claim 25  wherein applying an adhesive to the root canal passage comprisies applying a light-curing adhesive to the root canal passage, the light-curing adhesive having a viscosity in the range of at least about 0.5 cP to at least about 1.5 cP.  
   
   
       28 . The method according to  claim 27 , further comprising exposing a portion of the plug to a light at a selected wavelength.  
   
   
       29 . The method according to  claim 28  wherein exposing a portion of the plug to a source of light is further comprised of exposing a portion of the plug to light through an optical fiber that is optically coupled to the light source.  
   
   
       30 . The method according to  claim 25  further comprising: 
 manipulating a carrier having a plug portion positioned on a support portion to place the plug portion in proximity to the root canal passage that extends to at least an apical portion of the root canal passage; and    inserting the plug portion into the root canal passage.    
   
   
       31 . The method according to  claim 30 , further comprising severing the support portion from the plug portion.  
   
   
       32 . A method for obturating a root canal passage in a tooth, comprising: 
 applying an adhesive to at least one of the root canal passage and an optically transmissive plug;    inserting the optically transmissive plug into the root canal passage, the plug being in a fully polymerized condition prior to inserting the plug into the root canal passage and extending to an apical portion of the root canal, a major portion of the outer surface of the plug abutting the internal surfaces of the root canal passage, the plug further being provided in more than one predetermined standardized configuration to permit the body to conform to a contour formed within the root canal passage by a corresponding endodontic rotary instrument; and    curing the adhesive.    
   
   
       33 - 36 . (canceled)  
   
   
       37 . A method for obturating a root canal passage in a tooth, comprising: 
 fusing an optically transmissive material to form a semi-liquid mass of the material;    applying a light-curing adhesive to the root canal passage;    injecting the semi-liquid mass into the root canal passage to form an obturating body within the root canal; and    exposing a portion of the obturating body to a light source to cure the adhesive.    
   
   
       38 - 60 . (canceled)  
   
   
       61 . A plug for implantation into an endodontically prepared root canal of a tooth, comprising: 
 an elongated body comprised of a biologically compatible, resilient material that is one component of a two component bonding system, the body having a distal end and a proximal end and a length to allow the distal end to be positioned adjacent to an apical portion of the tooth when the body is inserted in the root canal of the tooth.    
   
   
       62 . The plug of  claim 61 , wherein the body comprises a catalyst portion of the two component bonding system.  
   
   
       63 . The plug of  claim 61 , wherein the body comprises a resin portion of the two component bonding system.  
   
   
       64 . The plug of  claim 61 , wherein the body comprises an activator portion of the two component bonding system.  
   
   
       65 . The plug of  claim 61 , wherein at least one component of the two component bonding system includes a photocatalyst.  
   
   
       66 - 70 . (canceled)  
   
   
       71 . A plug configured to be adhesively implanted into an endodontically prepared root canal of a tooth, comprising: 
 an elongated body comprised of a biologically compatible, resilient material of uniform composition having a distal end and a proximal end and having a length to allow the distal end to be positioned adjacent to an apical portion of the tooth when the body is inserted in the root canal of the tooth, the body occupying substantially an entire volume of the root canal when implanted; and    an adhesive compound interposed between the elongated body and an inner surface of the root canal that bonds the body to the inner surface of the root canal.    
   
   
       72 . The plug of  claim 71 , wherein the elongated body is further comprised of an optically transmissible material.  
   
   
       73 . The plug of  claim 72 , wherein the optically transmissible material comprises an optically transparent material.  
   
   
       74 . The plug of  claim 72 , wherein the optically transmissible material comprises an optically translucent material.  
   
   
       75 . The plug of  claim 71 , wherein the adhesive compound further comprises a dual cure adhesive having a first curing rate when the adhesive is exposed to illumination, and a second curing rate when the adhesive is not exposed to illumination.  
   
   
       76 . The plug of  claim 71 , wherein the adhesive compound further comprises a two part bonding system.  
   
   
       77 - 83 . (canceled)  
   
   
       84 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein implanting a plug into the root canal passage further comprises chemically softening the plug.  
   
   
       85 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein implanting a plug into the root canal passage further comprises mechanically deforming the plug.  
   
   
       86 . The plug of  claim 61 , wherein the body is a component that catalyzes the bonding of a dual cure bonding compound.  
   
   
       87 . The plug of  claim 14 , wherein the elongated body is further comprised of a plurality of obturating bodies that cooperatively occupy the entire volume of the root canal.  
   
   
       88 - 91 . (canceled)