Gutta-Percha

Gutta-percha is a natural latex material derived from the sap of certain tropical trees, particularly the Palaquium gutta tree. It's a thermoplastic substance that becomes rigid and durable when cooled, making it useful for various applications. Historically, gutta-percha was used for underwater telegraph cables due to its insulating properties. In dentistry, it's commonly used as a filling material in root canal treatments because it's biologically inert and can be easily molded when heated.