Fig. 1

Radiographical examination:

IOPA (Intra oral peri-apical) radiograph revealed that UL5 was previously treated with a failed root canal filling, It also revealed that UL5 has three roots; DB is a missed canal, P with short root canal filling, and MB is a curved root with short root filling material at the site of curvature (probably ledge or even perforation).IOPA also shows a peri-apical changes around MB and P roots. Patient clarified that he didn’t take an x-ray in the previous treatment. 

Fig. 2

Diagnosis:

Previously treated UL5, SAP (symptomatic apical periodontitis)

Treatment plan:

Re-treatment of UL5.

Objectives:

  • Removing Amalgam restoration and old root filling materials.
  • Getting a patent pathway though the whole working lengths of the canal.
  • Chemo-mehcanical debridement of  the root canal system.
  • Filling the root canal system in a hermetic seal.
  • Restore the tooth to function.
Fig. 3

Isolation with rubber dam.

Fig. 4

Removing old Amalgam restoration.

Fig. 5

Removing old  root filling material using AF F-One #25/0.06  (Shanghai Fanta Dental Materials Co., Ltd., China).

Fig. 6

As expected, perforation in the MB root where old Gutta Percha was stopped at  the curvature.

Fig. 7

Getting a patent pathway through the original MB canal using C file 10 (Shanghai Fanta Dental Materials Co., Ltd., China).

Fig. 8

MB system; Red arrow pointing to the perforation, while blue arrow pointing to the original canal.

All canals been prepared using AF F-One (MB and DB #25/0.04., P #25/0.06).

Fig. 9

Irrigation with NaOCl 5.25%, EDTA 18% solution, PUI activation (passive ultrasonic irrigation) using Eighteeth Ultra-X with the blue tip (Changzhou Sifary Medical Technology Co., Ltd., China).

Fig. 10

Obturating MB canal to the level beyond perforation site by  CWC (Continuous wave compaction) of Gutta Percha, using Eighteeth Fast-Pack (Changzhou Sifary Medical Technology Co., Ltd., China).

Fig. 11

Introducing MTA to the site of perforation, by the aid of MAP System (Produits Dentaires, Switzerland). The rest of MB canal was filled with MTA.

Fig. 12

Obturation of P and DB canals Gutta Percha cones and BioCeramic Sealer using Modified Hydraulic Obturation (250 C for 2 seconds) with Fast-Pack, then Backfilling with Eighteeth Fast-Fill (Changzhou Sifary Medical Technology Co., Ltd., China).

Fig. 13

Final radiograph showing obturation of the three canals,  in addition to the perforation site. Core build up with composite.

The patient has been scheduled for coronal coverage.

Conclusions

It is well-known that bacteria is the primary etiological factor in the development of pulpal and peri-apical lesions (Kakehashi et al. 1965). Ørstavik and Pitt Ford (2008) described the aim of root canal treatment is “to prevent or cure apical periodontitis”. The steps of achieving this goal is by decreasing the level of bacteria (and their toxins) in the complex root canal system as low as possible through a chemo-mechanical debridement (Bystrom et al.1981, Siqueira Jr. and Rôças 2008, Wong 2004, Basmadjian‐Charles et al. 2002), and then filling the root canal system with a well adapted root canal filling capable of preventing reinfection of the root canal space and leakage of residual bacteria and bacterial products into the peri-apical tissues (Basrani and Haapasalo 2012). Preoperative radiograph plays an important role in the diagnosis and in the treatment planning (Gröndahl and Huumonen 2004). A preoperative radiograph showing full roots and at least 2-3 mm of periapical region is mandatory before prompting with the root canal treatment (ESE 2006).

In this reported case, the previous treatment was not succeeded mainly due to the inability to interpret the anatomy of the root canal system by preoperative radiograph, which led to improper execution of the treatment, inability to cure patient’s pain and comfort, more difficult re-treatment, more periapical tissue damage, more tooth structure  loss in re-treatment, and more costs and chair-side time for the patient.

Pre-operative radiograph is of a great importance to confirm our primary diagnosis (collected by patient’s history  and clinical examination), to make our treatment plan, and as a baseline to assess our outcomes in reviewing.

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