File retrieval
In this case, the doctor referring the patient asked me if I could retrieve the broken file.
File retrieval is always changeling for me because usually requires a lot of time and the collaboration of the patient trying not to move due to the high magnified field of view where I work on and a lot of patience as well; the use of the proper equipment plays a very important role.
This case has been done with ProUltra ultrasonic tips (Dentsply) under the Labomed Magna surgical microscope view.
These tips are made of titanium and can be pre-curved allowing to work in the direction you want. The bad side of these instruments is that they tend to get blunt and break very easily.
The use of the macriscope is a must, you need to see where are you activating the ultrasonic tip to preserve as much dentin as possible and to avoid perforations.
The broken file it behaves as a rigid body due its short length although the alloy what is made of should let it behave as a flexible metal. As I told before, be patient and remove dentin little by little to create more space is the only way to get the file out of the canal.
My advice for this kind of situations is try to bypass the broken file first, and if you can’t, try to retrieve it. Bypassing instruments is something that I’m not able to do 90% of the time.
Wise to resolve, and patient to perform.
Dr. Pablo Salmeron at Dr. Roze & Associates.