Patent ID: 6500004
Filing Date: 2002-12-31
Classification: A61C,A61K

Abstract:
A method for treating a tooth following an endodontic procedure comprising:providing a tooth that includes an access hole drilled into and extending through the crown of the tooth, said access hole providing access to at least one root canal of the tooth that has been cleaned by an endodontic procedure; mixing together initially separate parts of a multipart endodontic composition to form a mixed composition which is initially flowable and suitable for placement into a root canal during a root canal procedure and which hardens over time, the mixed composition initially including: a polymerizable resin portion including an adhesive resin that is at least one of an alkyl acrylate or alkyl methacrylate and capable of bonding to dental tissue found within a root canal; at least one chemical initiator which causes at least a portion of the polymerizable resin portion to polymerize over a period of time; and at least one polymerization photoinitiator which, upon irradiating at least a portion of the mixed composition with radiant energy, causes accelerated polymerization and hardening of at least a portion of the polymerizable resin portion; introducing the mixed composition into the at least one root canal of the tooth; irradiating with radiant energy an exposed portion of the mixed composition within the root canal in order to polymerize and harden at least the exposed portion of the mixed composition; and filling the access hole with a filling material.