Root canal filling materials and methods

Abstract

In various embodiments of a method for filling root canal spaces, the root canal spaces are cleaned and irrigated, for example, by any suitable endodontic procedure, and the irrigating liquid is not removed from the canal spaces prior to filling. In some embodiments, a hydrophobic filler material is introduced into the root canal spaces while they are filled with liquid. As the canal spaces are filled, the hydrophobic filler material displaces the liquid and drives it out of the canal spaces, towards the crown of the tooth, where it can be removed. The hydrophobic filler material may comprise magnetically responsive particles having a hydrophobic surface coating that are compacted into the root canal spaces by application of a magnetic force field. In other embodiments, hydrophilic filler material in a flowable phase is introduced into the canal spaces where it partly displaces and partly absorbs the irrigating liquid before solidifying.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A root canal filler for a tooth, comprising:
 a multiplicity of relatively large particles sized to form a plug in a canal space proximate an apex of the tooth; and   a multiplicity of relatively small particles sized to at least substantially fill the remainder of the canal space.   
     
     
         3 . The root canal filler of  claim 2 , wherein sizes of the relatively large particles are in a range from about 35 microns to about 200 microns. 
     
     
         4 . The root canal filler of  claim 2 , wherein sizes of the relatively small particles are in a range from about 2 microns to about 30 microns. 
     
     
         5 . The root canal filler of  claim 2 , wherein at least some of the relatively large particles or the relatively small particles comprise a ferromagnetic core substantially surrounded with a hydrophobic coating. 
     
     
         6 . The root canal filler of  claim 5 , wherein the hydrophobic coating comprises polyorganosiloxanes, polyorganosilanes, or a mixture thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The root canal filler of  claim 2 , wherein the multiplicity of relatively small particles is sized to at least substantially fill side canals and other canal spaces extending laterally from the canal space. 
     
     
         8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . A system comprising:
 a filling material comprising a plurality of particles responsive to a non-contacting energy field, said filling material configured to at least partially fill a root canal space of a tooth; and   a manipulator configured to produce the non-contacting energy field and to manipulate the filling material without physically contacting the filling material during filling of the root canal space of the tooth, the non-contacting energy field comprising electric energy or ultrasound energy, the manipulator configured to be positionable near the tooth and to provide sufficient non-contacting energy to at least partially liquefy at least some of the filling material in the root canal space.   
     
     
         13 . A method for filling a root canal space of a tooth, comprising:
 using a non-contacting energy field to at least partially liquefy a filling material in a root canal space during filling of the root canal space,   wherein the non-contacting energy field comprises electric energy or ultrasound energy.   
     
     
         14 . The root canal filler of  claim 2 , further comprising a hydrophilic material. 
     
     
         15 . The root canal filler of  claim 14 , wherein the hydrophilic material comprises a reversible hydrocolloid.