Evaluation of an ultrasonic technique to remove fractured rotary nickel-titanium endodontic instruments from root canals: clinical cases.

The removal of fractured rotary nickel-titanium instruments from small, curved root canals is one of the most complex operative procedures in endodontics. There have been many different devices and techniques developed to remove fractured instruments, but none are consistently successful and all show a high incidence of canal damage such as perforation. A technique using a staging platform and the use of modern ultrasonic tips with direct visualization through a dental operating microscope has recently been evaluated. The use of this technique in clinical practice is described in 24 cases and illustrated by 3 cases.