Customized root canal obturation cores and methods of making customized root canal obturation cores
A core for obturating a root canal includes a body that has a pre-formed contour that closely matches a contour of the root canal. When the core is inserted in the root canal with or without sealer, there are essentially no voids in the root canal. A method of making a customized root canal obturation core includes generating a three-dimensional image of a root canal. The method also includes manufacturing the customized root canal obturation core based on the three-dimensional image of the root canal. The customized root canal obturation core has a preformed contour that closely matches a contour of the root canal such that when the core is inserted in the root canal with or without sealer there are essentially no voids in the root canal.
1. A core for obturating a root canal having a coronal portion, a middle portion, and an apical portion, the core comprising:
a pre-formed contoured portion that closely matches a contour of the apical portion of the root canal such that when the pre-formed contoured portion is inserted in the apical portion of the root canal with or without a sealant any voids between the pre-formed contoured portion and a wall of the apical portion of the root canal are smaller than about 2.0 micrometers, thereby creating a seal substantially impervious to bacteria.
2. The core of claim 1 , wherein the pre-formed contoured portion comprises a material that is biocompatiable and substantially impervious to bacterial infiltration.
3. The core of claim 1 , wherein the pre-formed contoured portion is generated by a computerized manufacturing system that uses a three-dimensional image of the root canal.
4. A method of making a customized root canal obturation core, the method comprising:
generating a three-dimensional image of a hollow root canal from which inflamed or infected tissue has been removed, the root canal having a coronal portion, a middle portion, and an apical portion; and
manufacturing the root canal obturation core based on the three-dimensional image of the root canal, the customized root canal obturation core comprising a pre-formed contoured portion that closely matches a contour of the apical portion of the root canal such that when the pre-formed contoured portion is inserted in the apical portion of the root canal with or without sealant any voids between the pre-formed contoured portion and a wall of the apical portion of the root canal are smaller than about 2.0 micrometers, thereby creating a seal substantially impervious to bacteria.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the three-dimensional image is a tomographic image.
6. The method of claim 4 , wherein generating the three-dimensional image comprises using computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), ultrasound imaging, or optical imaging.
7. The method of claim 4 , wherein manufacturing the root canal obturation core based on the three-dimensional image of the root canal comprises:
generating a three-dimensional model of the root canal or of the root canal obturation core from the three-dimensional image; and
using a computer controlled manufacturing system to manufacture the root canal obturation core based on the three-dimensional model of the root canal or of the root canal obturation core.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the computer controlled manufacturing system comprises a computer numerically controlled lathe or a milling machine.
9. The method of claim 7 , wherein the computer controlled manufacturing system comprises an additive manufacturing machine.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the additive manufacturing machine comprises a stereolithographic machine, an inkjet printer machine, a selective laser sintering machine, or a fused deposition modeling machine.
11. A method of treating pulpal damage, the method comprising:
removing inflamed or infected tissue from a root of a tooth, thereby creating a hollow root canal having a coronal portion, a middle portion, and an apical portion;
generating a three-dimensional image of the root canal;
manufacturing the customized root canal obturation core based on the three-dimensional image of the root canal, the customized root canal obturation core comprising a pre-formed contoured portion that closely matches a contour of the apical portion of the root canal; and
inserting the customized root canal obturation core into the root canal with our without sealant such that the pre-formed contoured portion is positioned at the apical portion of the root canal and that any voids between the pre-formed contoured portion and a wall of the apical portion of the root canal are smaller than about 2.0 micrometers, thereby creating a seal substantially impervious to bacteria.
12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising removing a pulp from the root canal.
13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the three-dimensional image is a tomographic image.
14. The method of claim 11 , wherein generating the three-dimensional image comprises using computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), ultrasound imaging, or optical imaging.
15. The method of claim 11 , wherein manufacturing the customized root canal obturation core based on the three-dimensional image of the root canal comprises:
generating a three-dimensional model of the root canal or of the root canal obturation core from the three-dimensional image; and
using a computer controlled manufacturing system to manufacture the customized root canal obturation core based on the generated three-dimensional model of the root canal or of the root canal obturation core.
16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the computer controlled manufacturing system comprises a computer numerically controlled machine.
17. The method of claim 16 , wherein computer numerically controlled machine comprises a lathe or a milling machine.
18. The method of claim 15 , wherein the computer controlled manufacturing system comprises an additive manufacturing machine.
19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the additive manufacturing machine comprises a stereolithographic machine, an inkjet printer machine, a selective laser sintering machine, or a fused deposition modeling machine.
20. A system for generating a customized core for obturating a root canal having a coronal portion, a middle portion, and an apical portion, the system comprising:
a computational device comprising a processor configured to generate a three-dimensional model of a root canal or the core from a three-dimensional image of the root canal; and
a computer controlled manufacturing system configured to manufacture the core using the three-dimensional model, the core comprising a pre-formed contoured portion that closely matches a contour of the apical portion of the root canal such that when the pre-formed contoured portion is inserted in the apical portion of the root canal with or without sealant any voids between the pre-formed contoured portion and a wall of the apical portion of the root canal are smaller than about 2.0 micrometers, thereby creating a seal substantially impervious to bacteria.
21. The system of claim 20 , wherein the computer controlled manufacturing system comprises a computer numerically controlled machine.
22. The system of claim 21 , wherein computer numerically controlled machine comprises a lathe or a milling machine.
23. The system of claim 20 , wherein the computer controlled manufacturing system comprises an additive manufacturing machine.
24. The system of claim 23 , wherein the additive manufacturing machine comprises a stereolithographic machine, an inkjet printer machine, a selective laser sintering machine, or a fused deposition modeling machine.
25. The core of claim 1 , further comprising:
a second pre-formed contoured portion that closely matches a contour of the middle portion of the root canal such that when the second pre-formed contoured portion is inserted in the middle portion of the root canal with or without a sealant any voids between the second pre-formed contoured portion and a wall of the middle portion of the root canal are smaller than about 2.0 micrometers, thereby creating a seal substantially impervious to bacteria; and
a third pre-formed contoured portion that closely matches a contour of the coronal portion of the root canal such that when the third pre-formed contoured portion is inserted in the coronal portion of the root canal with or without a sealant any voids between the third pre-formed contoured portion and a wall of the coronal portion of the root canal are smaller than about 2.0 micrometers, thereby creating a seal substantially impervious to bacteria.
26. The method of claim 4 , wherein the customized root canal obturation core further comprises:
a second pre-formed contoured portion that closely matches a contour of the middle portion of the root canal such that when the second pre-formed contoured portion is inserted in the middle portion of the root canal with or without sealant any voids between the second pre-formed contoured portion and a wall of the middle portion of the root canal are smaller than about 2.0 micrometers, thereby creating a seal substantially impervious to bacteria; and
a third pre-formed contoured portion that closely matches a contour of the coronal portion of the root canal such that when the third pre-formed contoured portion is inserted in the coronal portion of the root canal with or without sealant any voids between the third pre-formed contoured portion and a wall of the coronal portion of the root canal are smaller than about 2.0 micrometers, thereby creating a seal substantially impervious to bacteria.
27. The method of claim 11 , wherein:
the customized root canal obturation core further comprises:
a second pre-formed contoured portion that closely matches a contour of the middle portion of the root canal, and
a third pre-formed contoured portion that closely matches a contour of the coronal portion of the root canal; and
the inserting the customized root canal obturation core into the root canal comprises:
positioning second pre-formed contoured portion at the middle portion of the root canal such that any voids between the second pre-formed contoured portion and a wall of the middle portion of the root canal are smaller than about 2.0 micrometers, thereby creating a seal substantially impervious to bacteria, and
positioning third pre-formed contoured portion at the coronal portion of the root canal such that any voids between the third pre-formed contoured portion and a wall of the coronal portion of the root canal are smaller than about 2.0 micrometers, thereby creating a seal substantially impervious to bacteria.
28. The system of claim 20 , wherein the core further comprises a second pre-formed contoured portion that closely matches a contour of the middle portion of the root canal, and a third pre-formed contoured portion that closely matches a contour of the coronal portion of the root canal;
wherein when the second pre-formed contoured portion is inserted in the middle portion of the root canal with or without sealant any voids between the second pre-formed contoured portion and a wall of the middle portion of the root canal are smaller than about 2.0 micrometers, thereby creating a seal substantially impervious to bacteria; and
wherein when the third pre-formed contoured portion is inserted in the coronal portion of the root canal with or without sealant any voids between the third pre-formed contoured portion and a wall of the coronal portion of the root canal are smaller than about 2.0 micrometers, thereby creating a seal substantially impervious to bacteria.