Our needles in the haystack: An endodontist's review and case reports

During root canal preparation procedures, the potential for instrument breakage is always present. This review focuses on basic principles involved in separated instrument retrieval, factors on which successful retrieval of the separated instrument depends on and various treatment options available for the same. A decision-making fl owchart for the techniques to be used in the management of intracanal separated instruments is presented. Prognostic factors depending on the phase (that of chemo-mechanical preparation) of separation and pre-operative status of pulp are discussed. Few case reports that document cases with instrument separation that were successfully treated in our department are also presented.