Apparatus and method for root canal obturation
AssigneeRandall Rex Calvert
InventorRandall Rex Calvert
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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 in a semi-liquid state and exposed to light to cure the adhesive.
Claims8
A plug configured to be implanted into an endodontically prepared root canal of a tooth, comprising:
- an elongated body comprised of a biologically compatible, nonporous, resilient material of uniform composition, the uniform composition being the same across every cross-section of the elongated body, the elongated body further 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 provided on a surface of the elongated body and adapted to be interposed between the elongated body and an inner surface of the root canal, the adhesive compound being configured to chemically bond the body to the inner surface of the root canal;
- wherein the elongated body is formed from a material such that an interior of the elongated body is resilient after being chemically bonded to the inner surface of the root canal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.