Root Canal Obturation Material: Should I Remove This Before Placing Implants?

Obviously the best time to remove root canal overfill stuff is at the time of extraction. It can be very tenacious and it can takes good light, suction, and patience. I have noticed that in some cases the bone around this stuff is avascular, and needs currettage or perforation order to create bleeding and facilitate healing. In your case the socket has healed for three months. You would do a considerable amount of damage to the site at this point to try and clean it out. I would make your implant prep as normal, irrigate the prep at each diameter, and place fixture without worry. Your post-op x-ray may look a little funny, but it is nothing to worry about. The material is inert and I have not seen it to cause any problem.

Dr. DA Hopefuly, the amount of obturation material is not excessive, and usually the periapical area is "removed" during the osteotomy, which should go a few millimeters past the apex in that area. The precautions I would take would deal more with the esthetics, such as maintenance of the interproximal papilla and soft tissue levels equal to the adjacent central, the soft tissue biotype, the need for guided tissue regeneration, etc... If the socket was not grafted, you may find that the labial cortical plate has some resorption. Look at the smile, and if the gingival line is exposed, you will need excellent bone grafting and guided tissue regeneration techniques to imitate the other central. Remember that the longer you wait, the more likely you will have more bone resorption and will require extra measures to make the case look good. Good luck.

Dear Dr.DA As you know Generally root canal obturating material can be sealer or guttapercha.But most often is sealer material .you should not be worried about it because the healing period was taken without any problem. Best regards Dr. Ali H Mesgarzadeh DDS MS OMFS Tabriz / Iran

It may not be good to place implants around or in sites where a silver point was used or an amalgam retrofill was placed.