Endodontics

Modern endodontic principles part 6: managing complex situations

The first stage in root canal retreatment is the careful assessment of and, if necessary, the removal of existing restorations to access the canal system. Attempting retreatment through an existing...

Modern endodontic principles part 5: obturation

Many materials and techniques are available to obturate the root canal system. Grossman et al have described the properties of an ideal obturation material (Table 1),4 however, no single material can...

Modern endodontic principles part 4: irrigation

During endodontic treatment mechanical debridement alone will not rid the root canals of bacteria,1 regardless of whether this is done by hand files or rotary instruments.2 First, instruments do not...

Modern endodontic principles part 3: preparation

The majority of micro-organisms are in the coronal portion of the canal and pulp chamber.4 Thus, whatever instruments are used, a crown down approach and only initial scouting of the canal prior to...

Modern endodontic planning part 2: access and strategy

Accessing the root canal system can be one of the biggest challenges to successful root canal treatment. The ability to get instruments into the canal system unimpeded using a glide path without...

Modern endodontic planning part 1: assessing complexity and predicting success

Dentists are often asked by patients, ‘Will it work?’ and it falls to the dentist to give an indication as to the projected success rate of their treatment. The definition of success has been a topic...

Traditional and contemporary techniques for optimizing root canal irrigation

This paper has summarized the various techniques available to optimize endodontic irrigation, either through manually activating syringe irrigation or through using contemporary automated devices....

The diagnosis and management of invasive cervical resorption

A 23-year-old Caucasian female patient was referred by her general dental practitioner to a University teaching hospital. She reported hypersensitivity to hot and cold stimuli in relation to LR4..

Removal of gutta-percha and root canal sealer: a literature review and an audit comparing current practice in dental schools

The aim of endodontic treatment, or retreatment, is to reduce the microbial load within the root canal system sufficiently to enable the host response to favour periapical healing.1 According to...

Endodontic ‘solutions’ part 2: an audit comparing current practice in belfast with uk and republic of ireland dental schools

Data collection forms were e-mailed to Restorative Specialist Registrars from all 16 dental schools across the UK and Republic of Ireland asking for details of the institution's treatment regimes...

Endodontic ‘solutions’ part 1: a literature review on the use of endodontic lubricants, irrigants and medicaments

More recently, studies are being undertaken on lowering the pH of NaOCl in order to improve its properties.84 This can be accomplished by the addition of chemicals such as etidronic acid...

Indications for surgical endodontics and findings of an audit into referrals

Peri-radicular surgery is indicated in situations when repeat orthograde endodontic treatment is not possible or may put a tooth at risk of irreparable damage. In 2001, The Royal College of Surgeons...

Management of open apex in a central incisor using mineral trioxide aggregate

A 16-year-old Caucasian male, was referred by his General Dental Practitioner, after presenting with an acute apical abscess associated with his UL1. He had suffered trauma to his upper anterior teeth...