Long-term retention of a paper point in the periapical tissues: a case report

A case is reported of a 15 mm paper point found in the periapical area of a maxillary right central incisor during endodontic surgery for an unresolved periapical radiolucency. The paper point had been present for between five and nine years. Histopathological examination showed the presence of chronically inflamed fibrous connective tissue with a number of foreign body giant cells and focal collections of chronic inflammatory cells. SEM comparison of the specimen with a similarly treated fresh paper point showed no indication of degradation of the paper point by host defense cells.