As the price of cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) machines dropped dramatically for use in endodontic treatment, greater image resolution and optimized care for more patients became a reality. The dental implantology game-changer of 3D-Guided Surgery – Computer Guided Surgery (CGS ), soon followed. The insertion of the dental implant with CGS’s fully three-dimensionally-guided assistance during the surgical procedure is quicker and more accurate. There is a place for freehand implant techniques, yet when performed correctly, CGS exceeds repeated accuracy statistics. Strong experience in fre ..read more

Large sets of clinical data gathered over an 11-year period in Ontario, Canada, show dentists are detecting more cases of pre-cancer and oral cancer than in previous studies. Recently published in the Journal of the American Dental Association, lead author and dentist-scientist Dr. Marco Magalhaes of the University of Toronto, looked at 63,483 biopsies submitted to the Toronto Oral Pathology service. The meta-analysis found data indicating the rise in numbers of oral carcinomas and dysplasia detected and submitted by dentists. “This is the first time that we have assessed dysplasia detected by ..read more

Nonsurgical root canal retreatment is frequently successful. A vital factor for success depends on the complete elimination of the original root canal filling material beginning with various filing procedures. Yet endodontic tools initially designed for shaping fall short of total elimination of material debris within the canal. A new study conducted by Dr. Marc Krikor Kaloustian of the Department of Endodontics at Saint Joseph University in Beirut, analyzed a combination of TS2 file (2Shape manufactured by Micro-Mega) / R25 instrument (Reciproc R25 instrument manufactured by VDW-Dental ..read more

Of all dental specialties, endodontics may have realized the most benefits of technological advancements. A trending paradigm that preservation of tooth structure may be a better predictor of long-term outcomes is supported by Ellen Meyer, DMD, who in Inside Dentistry writes, “Creating more conservative access openings can reduce the risk of tooth loss related to weakened tooth structure. Significant problems are more related to the loss of tooth structure more than the endodontic procedures themselves.” So, what factors drive the implementation of a minimally invasive approach? Three pieces o ..read more

Reptiles and fish have multiple sets of teeth during their life cycle. Yet, most mammals, including humans, have only a single set of replacement teeth. Curiously, mice have only a single set of teeth and no replacements. Researchers from King’s Faculty of Dentistry, Oral & Craniofacial Sciences, London, dug into the biomolecular analysis of mouse tooth development to ascertain the specific genetic mechanisms affecting vertebrate tooth replacement. The studies showed mice have a different form of the gene expression for Wnt in the dental lamina, the histologic area that allows for tooth re ..read more

Endodontic treatment often has success rates of 90-95%. Yet, despite well-done initial root canal treatment, some cases fail and require retreatment. Endodontists now have technologically enhanced instruments, like the dental operating microscope and 3D cone-beam imaging, which allow for a more precise diagnosis of a failing root canal, thereby facilitating retreatment of the case. The dental operating microscope and 3D cone-beam imaging improve on conventional visual evaluations of teeth and the surrounding tissues. The advanced technology vastly improves the visualization of apical patholog ..read more

Considering the stain red wine leaves on our teeth, it’s hard to believe this beverage could have any positive implications on oral health. However, research in the ACS’ Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry suggests that the compounds found in red wine, known as polyphenols, may actually fend off bad bacteria in the mouth. Many of the health benefits of red wine come from its content of polyphenols, a series of micronutrients that function to protect against harmful free radicals. While polyphenol has been found to fend off bad bacteria in the gut, the new study suggests that the polyp ..read more

Researchers at the UCLA School of Dentistry have mixed nanodiamonds with gutta-percha to create a stronger and antimicrobial material to prevent reinfection. Professor Dean Ho, Ph.D. started the research with nanodiamonds after his own experience with endodontic treatment. Dr. Ho asked his dentist about the shortcomings of guttapercha and discovered that attributes like strength and antibacterial properties warranted improvement. In the study published in ACS Nano (American Chemists Society), Dr. Ho and his interdisciplinary team bound amoxicillin to nanodiamonds, then incorporated the nanod ..read more

An article in the Postgraduate Medical Journal by Bradley Bale, MD, and Amy Doneen, ARNP, illustrates the pathways of specific bacteria from dental infections and shows how they directly cause heart attacks and strokes. Now considered a landmark publication, the 2017 article “High-risk Periodontal Pathogens Contribute to the Pathogenesis of Atherosclerosis” shifts dental pathogens from an associated cause to a direct causal status of arteriosclerotic vascular disease. The authors say conclusively that dentists’ responsibilities now include not only the diagnosis and treatment of dental disea ..read more

Is today’s endodontic therapy best practice to obturate a root canal to the radiographic apex? Is anything short of that radiographic apex unacceptable? While some dental institutions still instruct that the root canal should be obturated to the radiographic apex, other clinical opinions differ on this subject. The anatomic reality and radiographic perceptions/limitations are more complex. New research indicates that a better outcome rate is achieved when treatment includes obturation short of the radiographic apex. So, if short of the radiographic apex is desired, just how short is the goal ..read more