Utilization of gutta-percha for retrograde root fillings

Just as gutta-percha used with a root canal sealer is a recommended material for orthograde root fillings, it could similarly be the material of choice for retrograde fillings. Unfortunately, clinical accessibility and visibility do not always facilitate such a technique. The aim of this article is to present a new technique which enables retrograde fillings to be achieved with gutta-percha and a sealer. After the apex had been resected, a hole was drilled perpendicular to the plane of section of the apex about 1 mm coronally. The bucco-lingual depth required to reach the main canal was calculated. The cavity was then dried, coated with the sealer, and obturated with gutta-percha in accordance with thermo-mechanical compaction techniques. After excess filling material had been removed, the gutta-percha was cold burnished and the angles of the root were smoothed. Clinical cases illustrating healing of the periapical tissues are shown.