The use of iodine as a contrast medium in endodontic therapy

The present study describes the use of 10 per cent iodine in potassium iodide as an intradental x-ray contrast medium in the search for root canals or parts of root canals which were not detected in radiographs or by instrumentation. In most teeth with periapical radiolocencies a passage through the entire root was found by means of the contrast medium, but in the teeth without periapical involvement usually no communication was detected. According to the results of the present study, an intradental contrast medium may be useful in the search for apparently obliterated root canals.