0099-2399/90/1610-0505/$02.00/0 JOURNAL OF ENDODONTICS Copyright 9 1990 by The American Association of Endodontists
Printed in U.S.A.
VOL. 16, No. 10, OCTOBER1990
CLINICAL AID Safe and Easy Eucapercha Paste Preparation Jack P. Campbell, DMD, and Jeffrey R. Thorpe, DDS
This article presents a method that uses an amalgam capsule and an amalgamator to simplify the preparation of eucapercha paste. The pestle, rubbing against the gutta-percha inside the amalgam capsule, generates enough frictional heat to blend the gutta-percha and the eucalyptol. The consistency of the mixture can be adjusted for a variety of clinical situations.
thinner mix was desired, more eucalyptol was added; if a thicker mixture was the choice, more sections of gutta-percha were added. The mixture was retriturated to allow blending of the ingredients. Adjusting the trituration time and the amount of gutta-percha or eucalyptol will produce eucapercha paste that can be custom blended for a variety of clinical situations. DISCUSSION Morse and Wilcko (4) suggested heating the eucalyptol to approximately 85"F to hasten its interaction with the gutta-
The use of eucapercha paste to obturate root canal systems has been revitalized in recent years. Eucapercha has been shown to be useful in the obturation of curved canals and internal resorption cases (1, 2). Zakariasen and Stadem (3) found that canals obturated with eucapercha had less apical leakage than canals obturated with chloropercha. Morse and Wilcko (4) recommended that the eucapercha paste be prepared by using a dappen dish and an alcohol torch. However, in the dental operatory this technique can be hazardous because the dappen dish can crack or be dropped. It is also difficult to control the temperature of the eucalyptol when it is heated with the torch. Another technique, using a water bath at 140*F, has been recommended (5). However, this method is time consuming and requires equipment not usually available in an endodontic office. The purpose of this article is to present a new method of generating eucapercha paste. M A T E R I A L S AND M E T H O D S The armamentarium for this technique is readily available and consists of a clean (mercury-free) amalgam capsule, metal rod or plastic dumbbell pestle, amalgamator, eucalyptol, and large gutta-percha cones such as #40 or #90 (Fig. 1). The empty amalgam capsules are available from dental supply houses. Six #40 or two #90 gutta-percha cones were cut into 3- to 4-mm sections and placed into the amalgam capsule along with six drops (0.2 ml) of eucalyptol. The capsule was triturated in an amalgamator set on the highest setting for approximately 1 min. Then the amalgam capsule was opened to check the consistency of the eucapercha paste (Fig. 2). If a
FiG 1. Armamentarium for the amalgam capsule method of preparing eucapercha paste: eucalyptol, sectioned gutta-percha cones, clean (mercury-free) amalgam capsule, and pestles.
505
506
Campbell and Thorpe
FiG 2. The consistency of the paste can be determined by inserting a file into the amalgam capsule. The creamy consistency shown in this figure was obtained after I rain of trituration,
percha. In the amalgam capsule method, the internal temperature obtained with trituration was approximately 110~ with the metal rod pestle (Fig. 3) and just over 96~ with the plastic dumbbell pestle. These temperatures are well below the boiling point of the eucalyptol (6) and are sufficient to effectively blend the gutta-percha and eucalyptol into a paste. During cleanup, residual paste can be removed from the capsule by adding several drops of eucalyptol to the capsule and triturating for 30 s. Then the inside of the capsule is wiped clean with gauze or cotton applicators. The amalgam capsules can be sterilized by cold or gas sterilization. The procedure produces a creamy paste without the dangers of an external heat source, without producing a eucalyptol odor in the operatory, and without the inconvenience Of a water bath. The amalgam capsule method is fast, is safe, and can easily be modified for different clinical situations.
Journal of Endodontics
FiG 3. The reading (109.6~ obtained by inserting a thermocouple ' into the softened mass of gutta-percha after 1 rain of trituration. The temperature obtained with the metal pestle was slightly higher than that produced by the plastic dumbbell pestle. Drs. Campbell and Thorpe are endodontic residents at the Naval Dental School, NNDC, Bethesda, MD.
References 1. Morse D, Mann C, Esposito J. Gutta-percha/eucapercha. Part I1: Indications, representative cases, and pitfall management. Compend Contin Educ Dent 1987;8:772-7. 2. Morse D. Internal root resorption obturated by the gutta-percha-eucapercha method: report of a case. Compend Contin Educ Dent 1985;6:414-23. 3. Zakariasen K, Stadem P. Microleakage associated with modified eucapercha and chloropercha root-canal-filling techniques. Int Endod J 1982;15:6770, 4. Morse D, Wilcko J. Gutta percha-eucapercha: a new look at an old technique. Gen Dent 1978;26:58-64. 5. Leisure-Nelson S. Table clinic presented at Tri-service meeting, April, 1989. 6. Merck Index. lOth ed. Rahway, NJ: Merck & Co. Inc., 1986:562.
Printed in U.S.A.
VOL. 16, No. 10, OCTOBER1990
CLINICAL AID Safe and Easy Eucapercha Paste Preparation Jack P. Campbell, DMD, and Jeffrey R. Thorpe, DDS
This article presents a method that uses an amalgam capsule and an amalgamator to simplify the preparation of eucapercha paste. The pestle, rubbing against the gutta-percha inside the amalgam capsule, generates enough frictional heat to blend the gutta-percha and the eucalyptol. The consistency of the mixture can be adjusted for a variety of clinical situations.
thinner mix was desired, more eucalyptol was added; if a thicker mixture was the choice, more sections of gutta-percha were added. The mixture was retriturated to allow blending of the ingredients. Adjusting the trituration time and the amount of gutta-percha or eucalyptol will produce eucapercha paste that can be custom blended for a variety of clinical situations. DISCUSSION Morse and Wilcko (4) suggested heating the eucalyptol to approximately 85"F to hasten its interaction with the gutta-
The use of eucapercha paste to obturate root canal systems has been revitalized in recent years. Eucapercha has been shown to be useful in the obturation of curved canals and internal resorption cases (1, 2). Zakariasen and Stadem (3) found that canals obturated with eucapercha had less apical leakage than canals obturated with chloropercha. Morse and Wilcko (4) recommended that the eucapercha paste be prepared by using a dappen dish and an alcohol torch. However, in the dental operatory this technique can be hazardous because the dappen dish can crack or be dropped. It is also difficult to control the temperature of the eucalyptol when it is heated with the torch. Another technique, using a water bath at 140*F, has been recommended (5). However, this method is time consuming and requires equipment not usually available in an endodontic office. The purpose of this article is to present a new method of generating eucapercha paste. M A T E R I A L S AND M E T H O D S The armamentarium for this technique is readily available and consists of a clean (mercury-free) amalgam capsule, metal rod or plastic dumbbell pestle, amalgamator, eucalyptol, and large gutta-percha cones such as #40 or #90 (Fig. 1). The empty amalgam capsules are available from dental supply houses. Six #40 or two #90 gutta-percha cones were cut into 3- to 4-mm sections and placed into the amalgam capsule along with six drops (0.2 ml) of eucalyptol. The capsule was triturated in an amalgamator set on the highest setting for approximately 1 min. Then the amalgam capsule was opened to check the consistency of the eucapercha paste (Fig. 2). If a
FiG 1. Armamentarium for the amalgam capsule method of preparing eucapercha paste: eucalyptol, sectioned gutta-percha cones, clean (mercury-free) amalgam capsule, and pestles.
505
506
Campbell and Thorpe
FiG 2. The consistency of the paste can be determined by inserting a file into the amalgam capsule. The creamy consistency shown in this figure was obtained after I rain of trituration,
percha. In the amalgam capsule method, the internal temperature obtained with trituration was approximately 110~ with the metal rod pestle (Fig. 3) and just over 96~ with the plastic dumbbell pestle. These temperatures are well below the boiling point of the eucalyptol (6) and are sufficient to effectively blend the gutta-percha and eucalyptol into a paste. During cleanup, residual paste can be removed from the capsule by adding several drops of eucalyptol to the capsule and triturating for 30 s. Then the inside of the capsule is wiped clean with gauze or cotton applicators. The amalgam capsules can be sterilized by cold or gas sterilization. The procedure produces a creamy paste without the dangers of an external heat source, without producing a eucalyptol odor in the operatory, and without the inconvenience Of a water bath. The amalgam capsule method is fast, is safe, and can easily be modified for different clinical situations.
Journal of Endodontics
FiG 3. The reading (109.6~ obtained by inserting a thermocouple ' into the softened mass of gutta-percha after 1 rain of trituration. The temperature obtained with the metal pestle was slightly higher than that produced by the plastic dumbbell pestle. Drs. Campbell and Thorpe are endodontic residents at the Naval Dental School, NNDC, Bethesda, MD.
References 1. Morse D, Mann C, Esposito J. Gutta-percha/eucapercha. Part I1: Indications, representative cases, and pitfall management. Compend Contin Educ Dent 1987;8:772-7. 2. Morse D. Internal root resorption obturated by the gutta-percha-eucapercha method: report of a case. Compend Contin Educ Dent 1985;6:414-23. 3. Zakariasen K, Stadem P. Microleakage associated with modified eucapercha and chloropercha root-canal-filling techniques. Int Endod J 1982;15:6770, 4. Morse D, Wilcko J. Gutta percha-eucapercha: a new look at an old technique. Gen Dent 1978;26:58-64. 5. Leisure-Nelson S. Table clinic presented at Tri-service meeting, April, 1989. 6. Merck Index. lOth ed. Rahway, NJ: Merck & Co. Inc., 1986:562.
