Endodontics

It’s About the Agitation: The Waterlase iPlus Er,Cr:YSGG Advantage in Laser Assisted Endodontics

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It has long been established in endodontics that mechanical instrumentation of the canal system is insufficient for proper disinfection. Instead, a combined chemo-mechanical approach is needed whereby mechanical and chemical interactions occur with the pulp and dentin of a tooth.1-3 Infected dentin is removed and shaped with files while irrigating solutions chemically interact with the … Read more

Minimally Invasive Endodontics –It’s Really All About the Peri-Cervical Dentin!

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Endodontics has traditionally been founded on the principles of thorough canal cleansing and natural tooth structure preservation. However, for many decades, we were forced to focus on more operator-centric techniques (straight-line access openings, large canal preps) to facilitate new technologies as they became available. For example, coronal flaring or enlargement was a big part of … Read more

Harnessing Fluid Engineering and Bioactivesto Refigure Root Canal Treatment

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Over the decades, cleaning the root canal system has been considered the pivotal step in endodontic treatment. The clinical recommendations have been to adequately enlarge the canal to uphold effective irrigation with bleach and obturation of the root canals with sealers and gutta-percha. However, as the importance of preserving natural tooth structure continues to evolve, … Read more

Endodontic Retreatment of Tooth #11 with Dens Invaginatus: A Case Report

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Dens invaginatus, also known as dens in dente, is an embryological anomaly that occurs during tooth formation. The condition results in invagination of the amelodental structure within the pulp that can look like a ‘tooth within a tooth’ on radiographic evaluation, hence the nomenclature.1 The reported prevalence of adult teeth affected with dens invaginatus is … Read more

The Ultimate Look: ‘It’s Not One Thing, It’s Everything’

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INTRODUCTION Can you feel it? We all feel the stress of doing our next endodontic treatment to one extent or another. Why is that?Stress is present because endodontics is the only dental discipline where we “do it in the dark,” and doing dentistry blind is stressful for any dentist. After entering an endodontic root canal … Read more

Avoiding Endodontic Malpractice Pitfalls

Endodontic Malpractice

Several years ago, I read an article published in a popular magazine by a patient who was denouncing the endodontist who had just treated them. After a quick computer search of my patients’ files, I was relieved when it was apparent that this was not my patient. However, I reread the article several times hoping … Read more

Using Microrobotic Platforms for Endodontic Therapy and Diagnostics

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With its irregularities and anatomical complexities, the root canal system is one of the most clinically challenging spaces in the oral cavity. As a result, biofilm not fully cleared from the nooks and crannies of the canals remains a leading cause of treatment failure and persistent endodontic infections, and there are limited means to diagnose … Read more

Confidence vs Competence in Dentistry

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Definitions Confidence and competence are two words that are neither synonymous nor interchangeable. Confidence must be earned, as when it is simply imagined it can lead to a false sense of security in one’s abilities, which results in, you guessed it, incompetence. Why do we as dentists struggle so much with our confidence and question … Read more

The Ultimate Shaping System: An Opening for 3D Cleaning and Filling Root Canals

. This endodontically treated tooth is failing apically and laterally. Auxiliary Finishers produce deep shape, promoting complete treatment and healing.

New and potentially disruptive technologies come to market each year, proclaiming to improve on what came before. Many of these newcomers have virtually no evidence-based research to support claims of better, easier, or faster. Oftentimes, these new brands are merely copies of existing products, launched by dental companies in search of market share. That said, … Read more

The Endodontic Triad: Dead or Alive?

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INTRODUCTION “Change is the only constant.” The Greek philosopher Heraclitus is credited for speaking one of nature’s absolute rules about time and change. However, perhaps because events and things like inventions were slow to change 2,500 years ago, Heraclitus did not mention the rate of change. In April 2021, the rate of change is becoming … Read more

Treatment of Compromised Teeth: The Usual Suspects

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The unceasing innovations and iterations in dental technologies and materials has taken the sophistication of treatment modalities to an historic level. However, when we are focused on the newness, the thrill of the outcome, we fail to pay attention to the purpose of the activity. Case in point; dental implants were initially considered the gold … Read more

Identifying Clinical Parameters Used by Clinicians to Determine the Need for Biopsy During Surgical Root Canal Procedures

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keywords: surgical root canal procedures, histopathology, biopsy, non-endodontic lesions, guidelines Abstract The aim of this study was to identify clinical parameters used by endodontists to determine the need for histopathological assessment of periapical tissues collected during surgical root canal procedures, the proportion of these tissues being biopsied, and if there is a need for established … Read more

Treatment of Dental Sensitivity

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Dentin hypersensitivity (DH) is a clinical symptom experienced due to exposed dentin from either enamel loss (erosion, abrasion, abfraction) or removal of cementum exposed through gingival recession. DH is seen commonly in patients with gingival recession, dental erosion, toothbrush abrasion, or following dental bleaching. Aside from the discomfort experienced from eating, drinking, or exposure to … Read more

Endodontics Through the Looking Glass

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Endodontics has changed considerably over the past 60 years, yet the core principles remain unchanged: Instruments are still sequentially used to shape canals, irrigation is still passively delivered into the canals, and canals are still obturated with gutta-percha (GP). As endodontics grew in popularity, manufacturers continued to refine the armamentaria. The trend was a big … Read more

American Association of Endodontists Announces 2022 Award Winners

The American Association of Endodontists (AAE), the specialty dental association that represents more than seven thousand root canal dentists, is proud to recognize the winners of its prestigious awards during AAE22, the group’s annual meeting to be held in Phoenix. “The endodontic specialty consists of thousands of amazing, specialized dentists dedicated to saving patients’ natural … Read more

Thousands of Specialized Dentists Descend Upon Phoenix for Annual Meeting

For the first time in three years, following two-plus years of many virtual engagements, the American Association of Endodontists (AAE), a collection of specialized dentists known as endodontists, are excited to announce that their annual meeting, AAE22, will be held live in Phoenix on April 27-30. Endodontists are dental specialists who relieve patients tooth pain … Read more

Foundation for Endodontics Announce $500,000 Pledge from Endo1 Partners that will Benefit Residents and Academic Leaders

The Foundation for Endodontics, the philanthropic arm of the American Association of Endodontics, announces that Endo1 Partners has committed to a generous $500,000 pledge. This pledge will allow the Foundation to further its mission, benefiting post-graduate endodontic residents and educators. Specifically, the five-year pledge will be applied each year to a new scholarship for residents, … Read more

Weekly Wisdom: Tips and Tricks to Prevent and Manage Cracked Teeth

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  In this week’s Weekly Wisdom video, Dr. Gary Glassman returns to share his tips and tricks for preventing and managing cracked teeth.     Subscribe to Oral Health’s weekly e-newsletter to have the latest episode delivered straight to your inbox every week!