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The perforation


A surgery microscope is almost indispensable for this kind of treatment.

Perforations can be divided into:

  1. perforations made while opening an element
  2. perforations made while looking for the canals
  3. perforations made while clearing out canals too strongly (strip perforations)
  4. perforations made because the canal was made accessible in a wrong way
  5. perforations after creating a ledge in the bent apical part of the radix
  6. ‘old perforations’ not noticed during former treatments

ad a: When a pulpa room is almost completely obliterated, it may be very difficult to find the remaining pulpa cavity. When striking fluid or blood the electronic length determinator faultlessly indicates if a perforation has been made or if the pulpa room has been found. In case of a perforation a signal will be given indicating that the apix has been reached and when striking the pulpa room no signal will follow.

When a perforation has been made, the location of the perforation can be checked with the aid of an X-ray. Over bone level the perforation can be closed with a plastic restoration, e.g. glasionomer cement. Under bone level the perforation is closed with MTA (Pro Root) .

It is wise to look first further for the pulpa room and the canals before the perforation is closed. The survey should be optimal. When the pulpa room and the canal entrances have been found, gutta-percha styles are placed in the canals, upon which the perforation is closed. Now the canals can easily simply be found.

ad b: If a perforation is made while looking for the canals, the level of the perforation often lies lower than the pulparoom bottom or in the furcation (with molars). With incisives one mostly perforates towards buccal. Perforating towards lingual is out of the question. When looking for the canal, always prepare further to lingual. The electronic length determinator describes where exclusion/fixing or a perforation has been made. First, the real canals are searched and covered. Then, the perforation is closed with MTA (Pro Root). In the next session the endodontic treatment will be completed.

ad c and d: Such (strip) perforations come into being if the endodontic opening is insufficiently wide over the canal entrances, or if one empties with too big instruments. Vijlen and other instruments are placed under an angle in the canals when the element is not open wide enough, with the result that more is taken away from one part of the canal than from the other.
If in a bleeding canal a dry paper point is getting red halfway and not at the point, this indicates a strip perforation. A surgery microscope makes the strip perforation visible. We can measure electronically the depth of the perforation. Then, the endodontic treatment is finished 2 millimetres below the level of the perforation. Finally, the perforation is closed with MTA (Pro Root).

ad e. An apical perforation arises when a ledge has been made, which entails a loss of length. The person in charge yet wants to come to length and continues filing with too thick, tough and not bent files, until all of a sudden it is easier to come to length. Then probably an apical perforation has been made. Measure with the electronic length finder determinator and then make a length picture. The place where the file comes out gives a reliable indication whether it is a perforation or that the usual canal has yet been made accessible.
The perforation can be closed by placing a usual canal filling, or by placing MTA (Pro Root) if hand pluggers approximately can reach that place. If a perforation has found place in a bent canal some millimetres from the apex, it is wise to close off both the apical canal part and the perforation with MTA (Pro Root).

ad f. An ‘older perforation’ has a worse prognosis. Often, a parodontal problem has already arisen which can be seen on an X-ray. Before such a perforation is closed, we cover it with CA(OH)2 at least a week to make the wound sterile. Then calcium sulfate (BoneGen) is put in as a matrix in the perforation area.

Next the perforation is closed as described below in the outline.
If there is a risk that MTA is pressed on while there is a big lucention near the perforation, first create a stopper with quickly hardening ‘sterile’ calcium sulphate (plaster of Paris, BoneGen) and then place the MTA after you have cleaned the canal well again.

Schematic enumeration closing perforations:


Closing off immediately after the perforation has originated:

  • Cleaning the canal in question in the normal way
  • Filling the canal until 2mm under the perforation
  • Filling the rest of the canal and the perforation with MTA (Pro Root) according to the usual way
  • Closing the element in the normal way in a next session

With a perforation in the pulparoom bottom, first the canals are closed off in the usual way and then MTA (Pro Root) is added.

If a perforation has taken place in a bent canal some millimetres from the apex, then it is worth considering to close off both the apical canal part and the perforation with MTA (Pro Root).

In general, the prognosis of a perforation is better if the closing off takes place immediately after the perforation has been made.

Closing off of a long-standing perforation:

  • Cleaning and shaping the canal in the normal way
  • Temporary antibacterial dressing (Ca(OH)2) or Asphaline in the canal in question (at least one week)
  • Filling apical part of the perforation with gutta-percha and sealer until 2mm from the perforation
  • Closing off perforation with MTA (Pro Root)
  • IIf excessive pressure on the MTA is a probable risk, then first create a stop (matrix) with Calcium sulphate and then place the MTA against the quickly hardening plaster (BoneGen)
  • In the next session close off the element in the normal way



From this page you can order in our web shop


  • Surgery microscope
  • MTA Pro Root
  • MTA GunSystem
  • Calcium sulphate (BoneGen)
  • Electronic Length determinator
  • Gutta-percha
  • Paper-Points
  • Files
  • Hand pluggers



to last chapter: Removing possible obstacles/broken instruments from the canals
to next chapter: Closing off an open apex

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