title: Removal of overextended gutta-percha root canal fillings in endodontic failure cases.
abstract: A procedure is proposed for the complete removal of an overextended root canal filling when associated with a root canal treatment failure. First, the gutta-percha is softened with xylene and removed to a distance of 2 to 3 mm short of the apex. Second, the remaining gutta-percha, which is preserved as solid as possible, is removed by a Hedstrom file. The file is extended 0.5 to 1.0 mm beyond the apex, firmly engages the gutta-percha and is slowly removed. In 17 of the 18 cases, this procedure successfully removed the overextended gutta-percha.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Biology, The Maurice and Gabriela Goldschleger School of Dental Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Israel.
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Metzger
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ben-Amar
mesh_terms: D005119:Extravasation of Diagnostic and Therapeutic Materials / Q000628:therapy*; D006171:Gutta-Percha; D006801:Humans; D012086:Reoperation; D012390:Root Canal Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D017211:Treatment Failure; D014992:Xylenes
chemical_list: D014992:Xylenes; D006171:Gutta-Percha