Resident University of Minnesota School of Dentistry Stacy, Minnesota, United States
Purpose: The objective of this table clinic is to demonstrate the impact of rotational speed during rotary instrumentation for the removal of gutta-percha obturation material during non-surgical root canal retreatment. Technique: Gutta-percha is the most commonly utilized obturation material utilized in non-surgical root canal treatment. Multiple techniques have been utilized for the removal of obturation materials in cases where non-surgical root canal retreatment is indicated, including solvents, heat application, and mechanical instrumentation. Rotary instrumentation has been a commonly utilized method for gutta-percha removal, but when utilized at manufacturer recommended rotational speeds it can require the supplemental use of solvent in the case of dense obturations. The choice of solvents and their use can be controversial in endodontics. Increased rotational speed during removal creates increased friction, resulting in heat that allows thermoplastization of the gutta-percha. Heat generation with increased rotational speed during rotary instrumentation may facilitate efficient removal from the canal system during retreatment and potentially reduce the need for supplemental solvent application. The use of multiple file systems in vitro will be utilized for removal of gutta-percha to in vitro at varying rotational speed to demonstrate the impact of rotational speed during non-surgical root canal retreatment.
Conclusion: The use of increased rotational speed during rotary instrumentation during non-surgical root canal retreatment increased the efficiency of gutta-percha removal.
