A goal in the hole

Fig. 1

Pre-operative evaluation

A 35 years old, medically fit female presented complaining of a persistent swelling near the marginal gingiva of her mandibular right first molar after restorative procedures. She reported intermittent discharge through the buccal gingival margin with continuous tenderness to biting on the tooth.

Clinical examination revealed a restored mandibular first molar with moderate severe tenderness to gentle vertical and lateral percussion.

The buccal gingival tissues was swollen, easily retracted and upon digital pressure showed some bloody discharge.

Periodontal probing depths were examined. The probing depth was normal all around the tooth. Probing of the furcation area buccally revealed a 9 mm probing defect.

Radiographic examination revealed a previously treated molar with a screw post perforating the chamber floor. The furcation region displayed a large inter-radicular lesion.

Fig. 2

Regaining access to the pulp chamber

Disassembly of the coronal restoration was performed under rubber dam isolation and microscopic magnification using high speed diamond burs till reaching the area near to the post head.

The material around the post head was removed using a mid-power ultrasonic instrument to avoid extensive damage to the post head.

Counterclockwise application of ultrasonics facilitated unscrewing the post. However, some metal fragments were separated from the post (red arrow) and remained in the already inflamed inter-radicular tissues.

Removal of the root canal filling was done due to compromised sealing and the presence of apical periodontitis

Fig. 3

Removal of the inter-radicular metal fragments

Removal of the metal fragments was impossible before removal of the inflammatory tissues projecting into the floor perforation.

The cleaned and shaped root canals were protected using sterile teflon tape packed at the orifice. A cut and coagulate mode in an electrosurgery unit was used to remove the tissues and at the same time control bleeding without any damage to the bone of the roots.

Visual access to the metal fragments was achieved using high magnification and coaxial illumination. A microsurgical tip was used to suck out the fragments. The inter-inter-radicular region was then flushed with 20cc sterile normal saline to prepare the area for repair.

Fig. 4

Radiographic confirmation and cone fitting.

Radiographic confirmation of metal fragments retrieval  (Red arrow) was done at the same time with the cones check

Fig. 5

Preparation of the perforation site

Final decontamination of the pulp chamber and the perforation margins was done using 2.5% NaOCl aided by passive ultrasonic agitation, without any intention to intrude the irrigant into the perforation site to avoid the caustic effect of the irrigant on the peri-radicular tissues.

New sterile teflon pellets were used to seal the canal orifices, preventing accidental lodging of the bioceramic repair material into the root canal space

Fig. 6

Placement of a resorbable barrier.

A resorbable collagen matrix was packed into the furcation region through the perforation to act as a barrier against extrusion of the repair material and to limit the repair material to the perforation site.

Another advantage of using the resorbable matrix, is to control bleeding by activation of the clotting cascade.

Fig. 7

Placement of Bioceramic repair material

A fast setting Bioceramic putty material (Avalon Biomed, USA) was delivered to the perforation site using MAP one carrier (Produits Dentaires SA, Vevey, Switzerland) followed by brush packing.

The interface between the chamber floor and the repair material was cleaned from excess material using a Microbrush 

A sterile, slightly moist, cotton pellet was placed against the repair material to enhance hydration, accelerate setting and improves the mechanical properties of the set material.

Fig. 8

Obturation of the root canal system

Complete setting of the repair material was confirmed by scratching a DG16 probe against the repaired area.

The root canals were obturated using warm vertical compaction. A coronal seal was placed at the obturation visit

1 week later, the patient attended for coronal coverage. The tooth was restored into normal function and contours using a zirconia crown.

Fig. 9

8 months post-restorative recall:

After 8 months, the patient returned for routine examination. Radiographic evaluation of the treated molar revealed complete healing of the furcal lesion and apical periodontitis.

Clinical examination revealed no tenderness to vertical or lateral percussion. There was no probing defect in the furcation region and the gingival tissues regained their normal texture, color and contour