LONG-TERM RETENTION OF A PAPER POINT IN THE PERIAPICAL TISSUES - A CASE-REPORT

A case is reported of a 15 mm paper point found in the periapical area of a maxillary right centra incisor during endodontic surgery for an unresolved periapical radiolucency. The paper point had been present f or between five and nine years. Histopathological examination showed t he presence of chronically inflamed fibrous connective tissue with a n umber of foreign body giant cells and focal collections of chronic inf lammatory cells. SEM comparison of the specimen with a similarly treat ed fresh paper point showed no indication of degradation of the paper point by host defense cells.