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THE FILLING OF PULP CANALS 227

the cotton. When all has been removed grasp the cotton between
the fingers, tAvist broach to the left and cotton is easily disengaged.
The Most Popular Root Filling of today is gutta-percha, a por-
tion of Avhich is dissolved in chloroform to facilitate its introduc-
tion. HoAvever the less amount of chloroform or any other fluid
there is in the finally completed filling, the better, as these constit-
uents are not permanent.
Methods of Use. The canal must be entirely vacant except the
air which it contains, for its entire length, not forgetting that this
includes the removal of all moisture possible.
The First Step Is to Replace This Air Avith a fluid that is a sol-
A'ent for the gutta-percha canal filling. A very popular substance
for this purpose is the oil of eucalyptol as this, in addition to being
a solvent for gutta-percha, is slightly antiseptic and, being an oil,
does not mix Avith any blood serum or moisture that has, per-
chance, escaped the operator's notice in the apical end of the
canal, or may have a tendency by capillary attraction to exude
into the mouth of the foramen, floating the same fi'om the Avails.
The Introduction of Chlora-Percha is accomplished by dipping
a small broach into the container and carrying the broach thus
loaded, to each canal. Carry same to the foramen and by a pump-
ing motion the chlora-percha is mixed Avith the eucalyptol, and no
air or moisture will be imprisoned Avithin the canal.
The Introduction of the Gutta-Percha Canal Point is here ac-
complished b}' grasping the large end, Avhich may be flattened
with the cotton pliers or attaching same to the warmed end of a
canal plugger, then AvithdraAving the smooth broach Avhich has
been alloAved to remain part Avay up the canal and immediately
entering the small end of the canal point and shoving entirely to
place by a steady gentle pressure.
The Size of the Canal Point should be great enough to entirely
fill the canal. It should be a])out a millimeter longer to permit of
slight tamping at the mouth of the canal. The size may have been
previously ascertained by measurement and trial, Avhich is good
practice for a beginner. An experienced operator Avill, in most
instances, 1)0 al)lc to judge as to size AA'ithout measurement.
Slight Flinching on the part of the patient or the sense of full-
ness is quite a trustAvorthy guide as to ha\"ing reached the apical
end of canal in recent cases of devitalization, but such symptoms
should not be sought in devitalized teeth of long standing, partic-
ularly if there has been a loss of any of the tissue in the apical
space. HowcA'cr, in these cases as Avith all others, care should be