Root canal filling materials and methods

Abstract

In various embodiments of a method for filling root canal spaces, the root canal spaces are cleaned and irrigated, for example, by any suitable endodontic procedure, and the irrigating liquid is not removed from the canal spaces prior to filling. In some embodiments, a hydrophobic filler material is introduced into the root canal spaces while they are filled with liquid. As the canal spaces are filled, the hydrophobic filler material displaces the liquid and drives it out of the canal spaces, towards the crown of the tooth, where it can be removed. The hydrophobic filler material may comprise magnetically responsive particles having a hydrophobic surface coating that are compacted into the root canal spaces by application of a magnetic force field. In other embodiments, hydrophilic filler material in a flowable phase is introduced into the canal spaces where it partly displaces and partly absorbs the irrigating liquid before solidifying.

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         14 . A method for filling a root canal of a tooth, the method comprising:
 supplying a first filling material to the tooth, the first filling material comprising large particles that are larger than an apical opening of the tooth;   plugging a portion of a root canal of the tooth near an apex with the first filling material; and   at least substantially filling the remainder of the root canal with a second filling material.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the second filling material comprises small particles that are smaller than the apical opening of the tooth. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the second filling material also comprises particles larger than the apical opening. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising curing the first filling material or the second filling material. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising applying a non-contacting force field to the first filling material to cause the first filling material to move through the root canal. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein applying the non-contacting force field comprises applying a magnetic field to the first filling material, at least a portion of the first filling material responsive to the magnetic field. 
     
     
         20 . A root canal filler for a tooth, the filler comprising:
 a first filling material comprising a plurality of particles that are larger than an apical opening of the tooth, the particles configured to plug a portion of a root canal proximate an apex of the tooth; and   a second filling material having a plurality of particles that are smaller than the apical opening of the tooth, the second filling material configured to at least substantially fill the remainder of the root canal.   
     
     
         21 . The filler of  claim 20 , wherein the first filling material is different from the second filling material. 
     
     
         22 . The filler of  claim 20 , wherein at least some of the large particles or the small particles comprise a ferromagnetic core substantially surrounded with a hydrophobic coating. 
     
     
         23 . The filler of  claim 20 , wherein the large particles are in a range from about 35 microns to about 200 microns. 
     
     
         24 . The filler of  claim 20 , wherein the small particles are in a range from about 2 microns to about 30 microns. 
     
     
         25 . A method for filling a root canal of a tooth, the method comprising:
 positioning a force generator at or near the tooth;   supplying a filling material to the tooth; and   activating the force generator to generate a time-varying force in the filling material in the tooth, the time-varying force causing the filling material to substantially fill the root canal of the tooth.   
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the time-varying force comprises a magnetic force field. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the filling material comprises particles including a magnetic core. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the time-varying force comprises a non-contacting force. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein activating the force generator comprises generating temporal and/or spatial variations in a force field to control the forces applied to the filling material. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 25 , further comprising generating the time-varying force to control the degree of filling in the tooth. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 25 , further comprising generating the time-varying force to prevent the filling material from reaching or passing through an apical opening of the tooth. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein activating the force generator comprises causing the filling material to fill portions of the root canal that are remote from the force generator. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 25 , further comprising propagating acoustic energy through the root canal to substantially clean the root canal. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein propagating acoustic energy comprises activating a liquid jet. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 25 , further comprising causing the filling material to harden in the tooth. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 25 , further comprising monitoring a status of the filling of the root canal. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 36 , further comprising adjusting the force generator to alter the time-varying force field in response to the monitoring of the status of the filling. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein adjusting the force generator comprises altering at least one of a force field intensity and a force field gradient to enhance the control of the filling. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein supplying the filling material to the tooth comprises supplying a first filling material and a second filling material to the tooth, the first filling material different from the second filling material. 
     
     
         40 . A system for filling a root canal space of a tooth, the system comprising:
 a device for holding a filling material, the filling material configured to flow through the root canal space to substantially fill the root canal space; and   a force generator sized and shaped to be disposed at or near the tooth during a filling procedure, the force generator configured to generate a time-varying force in the filling material when the filling material flows through the root canal space, the time-varying force causing the filling material to substantially fill the root canal of the tooth.   
     
     
         41 . The system of  claim 40 , further comprising the filling material. 
     
     
         42 . The system of  claim 40 , wherein the force generator comprises a manipulator. 
     
     
         43 . The system of  claim 42 , wherein the manipulator comprises one or more magnets, and wherein the time-varying force comprises a magnetic force field. 
     
     
         44 . The system of  claim 40 , wherein the force generator is configured to cause the filling material to fill portions of the root canal space that are remote from the force generator. 
     
     
         45 . The system of  claim 40 , wherein the device for holding the filling material comprises a needle.