Placing the wrong material in a resorption defect impedes and delays healing

Patient: 65 year-old female with Type 2 Diabetes

Chief Complaint: slight toothache and feeling of pressure in the lower left back jaw

Dental History: The patient’s dentist had discovered an external resorption defect in the mesial root of the mandibular left first molar (tooth #19) then prepared and filled the defect with a temporary filling. Subsequently, the dentist prepared the tooth and placed a temporary acrylic crown. The patient was referred to the author for an endodontic examination and treatment.