Continuing education is essential for all dental practitioners, offering invaluable opportunities to deepen their understanding of their patients’ challenges and how best to manage a wide range of issues. Within endodontics, the complexities that can arise at every stage of patient assessment, diagnosis, and treatment make opportunities to learn from the experiences of others incredibly important.
In the Specialty Interest Theatre at the British Dental Conference and Dentistry Show, endodontology was a key area of discussion, drawing in those who were eager to expand their knowledge of innovative techniques and management of complex issues. A number of experts in the field led conversations which aimed to educate and inspire audiences to consider a wide range of treatment approaches when presented with endodontic cases.
Vital pulp therapy
Dr Phillip Tomson presented an insightful session “Managing the diseased pulp – a new dawn for vital pulp therapy!” in which he aimed to uncover the benefits of providing vital pulp therapy and when it may be appropriate.
Phillip began by asking “Why maintain pulp vitality?” outlining a wide range of positives including: cost-effectiveness, increased survival rate, easier treatment performance, and increased restorative cycle options. Currently, caries and deep carious lesions are major issues in dentistry, and it’s important that dental professionals have management techniques at their disposal to enable them to tackle these types of cases.
Management techniques can be indirect or direct. Indirect techniques include prevention, non-selective caries removal, and selective caries removal to firm or soft dentine. Direct management techniques include direct pulp capping, partial or full pulpotomy, and pulpectomy. Clinicians must decide how best to manage each case on an individual basis, in order to most effectively maintain pulp vitality. This is an important conversation within endodontology as vital pulp therapy and minimally invasive dentistry in general gain popularity – often resulting in excellent outcomes for patients.
Cracked teeth
Dr Dipti Mehta presented a fantastic session on the topic of “Mind the crack! A case-based journey through diagnosis, treatment and longevity of cracked teeth” addressing the growing number of patients presenting to practices with cracked teeth and exploring diagnosis and management for predictable outcomes.
Dipti began by talking through a number of case studies, and highlighting the importance of not making assumptions, listening to patients, and paying attention to small details when making a diagnosis. She considered whether all cracked teeth need endo, describing the process of managing cracked teeth through endodontic treatment – conservative access, shaping, obturation, and speedy cuspal coverage. Additionally, Dipti stressed the importance of managing patient expectations in these cases, noting that existing cracks will likely propagate further, without knowing when.
Dipti continued the discussion by exploring when to treat endodontically and when to extract. She considered whether root canal therapy at this point could jeopardise future treatment options due to catastrophic bone loss. Discussing the prognosis of cracked teeth with patients is essential, including conversations around delaying implant placement and when this is appropriate. If treatment is provided, regular radiographic monitoring is crucial.
Decision making
Dr Philip Mitchell’s session “To be or not to be: decision making in endodontics” offered delegates an insight into when and how to treat various endodontic problems based on up-to-date research to inform decision making protocols. He introduced delegates to decision making algorithms which can assist clinicians in their decision to monitor, retreat, perform apical surgery, or extract a tooth.
Each of these sessions were presented by members of the British Endodontic Society (BES) council, an organisation committed to furthering the nation’s dental health and well-being through pioneering, researching, and supporting its members. In addition to attending events like this to present on a wide range of topics, the BES hosts numerous educational events every year – including study clubs, workshops, and masterclasses.
Educational events and resources provided by a reputable source is the ideal way to deepen your knowledge of endodontics and the complexities of treatment and decision making. This will help to ensure that patients are always receiving the most appropriate treatment for them to a high standard. In the long term, this will mean that they experience fewer complications, require less invasive treatment going forward, and enjoy successful outcomes, free of pain.
For more information about the BES, or to join, please visit the website www.britishendodonticsociety.org.uk or call 07762945847
