What are the most common techniques for removing a broken instrument?
A. The techniques required to remove a broken instrument first begin with establishing complete coronal access. Before establishing radicular access, attention is directed towards pre-operative radiographs and working films to better appreciate the root bulk, thickness of the dentinal walls, and if present, the depth of an external concavity. If radicular access is limited, then hand files are used serially small to large, coronal to the obstruction, to create sufficient space to safely introduce gates glidden (GG) drills. GGs are used like “brushes” and each larger GG is stepped out of the canal to create a smooth flowing funnel which is largest coronally and tapers down to the head of the broken file. The microscope, in conjunction with ultrasonic techniques, has led to precise microsonic techniques. Once the head of the broken instrument is readily visible then specially designed contra-angled, parallel-walled and abrasively-coated ultrasonic instruments (ProUltra Endo Tips #3, 4, 5
