Obtura Plunger Seal Assembly

Obtura Spartan · Wear parts

The seal is what stops gutta percha going backwards

You can check this one without taking anything apart. Obtura Spartan point out that gutta percha expressed through the handpiece gives a quick and accurate indication of the plunger seal's condition. If material is passing back by the seal rather than forward down the needle, the seal is the part to change.

This pack: Obtura Plunger Seal Assembly · one assembly · screws onto the plunger shaft of the Obtura III Max · fitted with the Multi-Tool’s hex opening

›  Replace when: the seal is torn, missing, worn or broken, or excessive gutta percha passes by it

›  Fitting: insert the assembly into the small hex opening on the Multi-Tool, unscrew it from the plunger shaft, and fit the new one the same way – do not over-tighten

›  Consumable: Obtura Spartan name plunger seals as consumable items, outside the one-year parts warranty

What kills a seal early

›  More than one stick of gutta percha. The manual's capitalised warning: using more than one stick at a time may damage the seal. The mechanical lengths inside the handpiece are designed for a single piece.

›  A partial stick left in the chamber. Never between procedures.

›  A skipped clean. Hardened gutta percha on the seal is exactly what the daily brush-and-solvent routine exists to prevent.

When the seal is not the problem

Obtura Spartan list repeated plunger seal failure as one of the three triggers for extended maintenance – the deeper clean that uses the heater reamer tool. If a new seal fails again quickly, the plunger shaft itself is the next thing to inspect, for exposed metal threads at the tip or other obvious erosion.

Asked before buying

How often should it be changed? On condition, not on a schedule. Obtura Spartan say to observe the seal for wear and replace it if it is torn or missing – that inspection is step six of the regular maintenance routine, so it happens every clean.

Is the seal included with a new plunger shaft? Yes. Obtura Spartan supply 823-812 as the plunger shaft with plunger seal, so if the shaft is going too you do not need both – see Plunger Shaft with Seal.

The rest of the system

Single assembly · Obtura III Max · Consumable · REF OBT-823618 · mfr code 823-618