Introduction

It may be necessary to remove foreign bodies from root canals for a variety of reasons, for instance to re-negotiate and treat an infected root canal or to remove a fractured post so that a new restoration can be placed. In many instances such obstructions can be negotiated and the offending object removed without great difficulty, but in others the procedure is not completed easily. Furthermore, such cases are often time consuming and frequently require specialist equipment which may not be readily available.

Foreign objects that are found in root canals may be classified as non-metallic and metallic. The presence of these objects prevents thorough instrumentation of the root canal system and is likely therefore to compromise the treatment. Some simple questions will be asked in order to determine what sort of foreign object is located (and its situation) in the canal. Then, we will offer you solutions for the problem, as a step-by-step guide.