Clinicians often face dilemmas regarding the most appropriate way to restore a tooth following root canal treatment. Whilst there is established consensus on the importance of the ferrule effect on the predictable restoration of root filled teeth, other factors, such... Continue Reading →
Sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) is the most common irrigant used in modern endodontics. It is highly effective at dissolv- ing organic debris and disinfecting the root canal system due to the high pH. Extravasation of NaOCl into intra-oral and extra-oral tissues... Continue Reading →
Aqueous sodium hypochlorite (bleach) solution is widely used in dental practice during root canal treatment. Although it is generally regarded as being very safe, potentially severe complications can occur when it comes into contact with soft tissue. This paper discusses the... Continue Reading →
Symptomatic, incompletely fractured posterior teeth can be a great source of anxiety for both the dental patient and den- tal operator. For the latter, challenges associated with deriving an accurate diagnosis together with the ef cient and time effective management... Continue Reading →
One of the major controversies in root canal concerns the apical limit of instrumentation and obturation. A number of anatomical histological studies have been carried out to determine the true termination of the root canal. The apical extent of the... Continue Reading →
The endocrown is indicated for the endodontic restoration of severely damaged molars. This monolithic, ceramic adhesive restoration requires specific preparation techniques to satisfy criteria that are primarily biomechanical in nature: a cervical margin in the form of a butt joint... Continue Reading →
Three clinical cases involving teeth with open apices and apical periodontitis were treated using different protocols. The first case was managed with intracanal calcium hydroxide paste for 12 months before obturation with gutta-percha and sealer. In the second case, an... Continue Reading →
Establishing the working length is an important step in endodontic treatment as inaccurate length determination may lead to failure. There is an ongoing debate regarding the extent of the apical limit of root canal preparation. This controversy is based upon... Continue Reading →
Clinical decision making after endodontic file fracture McGuigan et al. British Dental Journal, 2013
When a file fractures during root canal treatment there are several treatment options available to the clinician. The definitive management should be based on a thorough knowledge of the success rates of each treatment option, balanced against potential risks of removal or file retention. Although integration of modern techniques into endodontic practice has improved the clinician's ability to remove fractured files, removal may not always be possible or even desirable.
The success of endodontic treatment depends on the eradication of microbes (if present) from the root-canal system and prevention of reinfection. The root canal is shaped with hand and rotary instruments under constant irrigation to remove the inflamed and necrotic... Continue Reading →
Its not uncommon for practitioners to refer to specialists or secondary care units for treatment of a 'periapical cyst' or 'radicular cyst'. The only surefire way of diagnosing the presence of a cyst is through histology, although such lesions do... Continue Reading →
Irrigation is the key step in disinfection of the root canal system. Reducing the bacterial load within the apical 3mm of the canal in preparation for obturation is largely achieved with chemo-mechanical debridement utilising files and hypochlorite. The method with... Continue Reading →
It's true, did you ever meet an orthopaedic surgeon who could mend a broken leg blindfolded ? Visualisation is everything in any procedure and if you can't see it you can't treat it. In many cases not seeing can result... Continue Reading →
About 5 years ago I was approached by the Royal College to do a paper on the endodontic implant interface. At the time the conjecture about the longevity, survival and success of implants was starting to being questioned both within... Continue Reading →