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.
 An endodontist operating on his patient. | |
| Occupation | |
|---|---|
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)
