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 customized core for obturating a root canal defining a non-uniform contoured volume that includes an apical portion including a physiologic apex of the root canal, the customized core comprising:
a pre-formed body shaped to match at least the apical portion of the non-uniform contoured volume such that, when the pre-formed body is inserted in the root canal, the pre-formed body substantially fills the apical portion including the physiologic apex, thereby forming a seal substantially impervious to bacteria and tissue fluid in the apical portion including the physiologic apex,
wherein the pre-formed body is generated by a computer controlled manufacturing system based on a three-dimensional image of the root canal,
wherein the pre-formed body further comprises a handle formed at a coronal end of the pre-formed body, and configured to allow a user to manipulate the pre-formed single-piece body relative to the root canal, and
wherein an exterior surface of the pre-formed single-piece body comprises a biocompatible and bioactive material comprising calcium silicate.
2. A customized core for obturating a root canal having an apical portion, a middle portion, and a coronal portion, the customized core comprising:
a pre-formed single-piece body shaped to match a contour of the root canal such that, when the pre-formed single-piece body is inserted in the root canal, the pre-formed single-piece body substantially fills the apical portion, the middle portion, and the coronal portion of the root canal, thereby forming a seal substantially impervious to bacteria and tissue fluid in the root canal,
wherein the pre-formed single-piece body comprises a material that expands when exposed to a catalyst and remains dimensionally stable.
3. The customized core of claim 2 , wherein the pre-formed single-piece body comprises a biocompatible and bioactive material.
4. A customized core for obturating a root canal having an apical portion, a middle portion, and a coronal portion, the apical portion including a physiologic apex of the root canal, the customized core comprising:
a pre-formed single-piece body shaped to match a contour of the root canal such that, when the pre-formed single-piece body is inserted in the root canal, the pre-formed single-piece body substantially fills the apical portion including the physiologic apex of the root canal, thereby forming a seal substantially impervious to bacteria and tissue fluid in the apical portion including the physiologic apex of the root canal,
wherein the pre-formed single-piece body is generated by a computer controlled manufacturing system based on a three-dimensional image of the root canal.
5. The customized core of claim 4 , wherein the pre-formed single-piece body further comprises a handle formed at a coronal end of the pre-formed single-piece body, and configured to allow a user to manipulate the pre-formed single-piece body relative to the root canal.
6. The customized core of claim 4 , wherein the root canal defines a non-uniform contoured volume.
7. The customized core of claim 4 , wherein the pre-formed single-piece body comprises a biocompatible and dimensionally stable material.
8. The customized core of claim 4 , wherein the pre-formed single-piece body comprises an antimicrobial material.
9. The customized core of claim 4 , wherein the pre-formed single-piece body comprises a material that is substantially impervious to bacterial and tissue fluid infiltration.
10. The customized core of claim 4 , wherein the pre-formed single-piece body comprises a radiopaque material.
11. The customized core of claim 4 , wherein the pre-formed single-piece body comprises a material that expands when exposed to a catalyst and remains dimensionally stable.
12. The customized core of claim 11 , wherein an expansion ratio of the material varies along a length of the pre-formed single-piece body.
13. The customized core of claim 4 , wherein at least a portion of the pre-formed single-piece body is a non-dentin color.
14. The customized core of claim 5 , wherein the handle is configured to be:
removed from the coronal end after the pre-formed single-piece body is positioned in the root canal; or
covered by a filling material after the pre-formed single-piece body is positioned in the root canal.
15. The customized core of claim 5 , wherein the handle comprises an interface configured to cooperatively engage with a removal tool configured to remove the pre-formed single-piece body from the root canal.
16. The customized core of claim 4 , wherein an exterior surface of the pre-formed single-piece body is smooth such that the exterior surface does not bond to a sealant between the pre-formed single-piece body and the root canal.
17. The customized core of claim 16 , wherein the exterior surface of the pre-formed single-piece body is hydrophobic.
18. The customized core of claim 16 , wherein the exterior surface of the pre-formed single-piece body has a coefficient of friction within a range of about 0.0 to about 0.15.
19. The customized core of claim 16 , wherein the exterior surface of the pre-formed single-piece body comprises polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE).
20. The customized core of claim 4 , wherein an exterior surface of the pre-formed single-piece body is rough such that the exterior surface creates a mechanical interlock with any sealant in the root canal.
21. The customized core of claim 4 , wherein the pre-formed single-piece body comprises a material that dissolves when exposed to a solvent.
22. The customized core of claim 4 , wherein a density of the pre-formed single-piece body varies along a width of the pre-formed single-piece body.
23. The customized core of claim 4 , wherein the pre-formed single-piece body defines a conductive pathway from an apical end to a coronal end of the pre-formed single-piece body.
24. The customized core of claim 4 ,
wherein an exterior surface of the pre-formed single-piece body comprises a biocompatible and bioactive material comprising calcium silicate.
25. The customized core of claim 4 , wherein the computer controlled manufacturing system comprises a computer numerically controlled machine.
26. The customized core of claim 4 , wherein the computer controlled manufacturing system includes an additive manufacturing machine.