Overview and Importance of Endodontics
– Endodontics encompasses the study and practice of the basic and clinical sciences of dental pulp.
– It involves the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of diseases and injuries of the dental pulp.
– Endodontics includes preserving teeth with irreversibly inflamed and infected pulpal tissue.
– Treatment is required to save the tooth if the dental pulp becomes diseased or injured.
– Endodontic treatment is one of the most common dental procedures.
– Endodontists play a crucial role in preserving natural teeth through root canal treatments.
– Endodontists are specialized in endodontic therapy and can provide advanced treatments.
– Endodontists are members of the American Association of Endodontists.
– Endodontists use microscopes during treatment to preserve tooth structure and avoid iatrogenic damage.
– Endodontists use CBCT (3D imaging) for diagnosis and treatment planning.
Procedures
– Root canal treatment is a dental procedure used to treat infected tooth pulp.
– It is required when the dental pulp is irreversibly damaged.
– Root canal treatment can also be done before placing post-retained crowns and overdentures.
– Periradicular surgery involves the root surface and includes procedures like apicoectomy and root resection.
– Other non-surgical endodontic procedures include pulp capping, pulpotomy, apexification, and pulpal regeneration.
– Hemisection is another non-periradicular endodontic surgery where a root and its overlying portion of the crown are separated and optionally removed.
– Microsurgical endodontics, using magnification devices like microscopes and dental loupes, is widely accepted among endodontists.
Root Canal Treatment
– Root canal treatment is used to treat infected tooth pulp.
– Bacteria entering the pulp through deep cavities or failed fillings can cause this.
– It involves removing the damaged and infected pulp, shaping and cleaning the root canal system, and filling and sealing it.
– A direct or indirect restoration is placed after the root canal treatment.
– Instrument fractures and sodium hypochlorite accidents can occur during root canal treatment.
Periradicular Surgery
– Periradicular surgeries involve the root surface and include procedures like apicoectomy and root resection.
– An apicoectomy is a surgical procedure where the apex of a root is resected.
– It is done when a previous root canal treatment fails and re-root canal treatment is not possible.
– Local anesthesia is used for improved visualization during the procedure.
– Complications that may arise include pain, swelling, ecchymosis, paraesthesia, and infection.
Education and Training
– Endodontists are specialist dentists with additional training and experience in endodontic treatment and surgeries.
– They receive formal qualifications in endodontics, apicectomies, microsurgery, and dental emergency and trauma management.
– Endodontics is recognized as a specialty by national dental organizations in various countries.
– In Australia, endodontics is recognized as one of the thirteen registered dental specialties.
– Dentists in the United States must undergo 2-3 years of postgraduate training to become an endodontist.
– American Dental Association (ADA) accredited programs for endodontics are a minimum of two years long.
– After completing the training, dentists are eligible to sit for the American Board of Endodontology examination.
– Successful completion of board certification results in Diplomate status in the American Board of Endodontics.
Endodontics (from the Greek roots endo- "inside" and odont- "tooth") is the dental specialty concerned with the study and treatment of the dental pulp.
Occupation | |
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Occupation type | Specialty |
Activity sectors | Dentistry |
Description | |
Education required | Dental Degree, Specialty certificate in endodontics |
Fields of employment | Hospitals, Private Practices |
Related jobs | Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery |
endodontics (uncountable)