Irrigation in Endodontics
The success of endodontic treatment depends on the eradication of microbes from the root-canal system and prevention of reinfection. The root canal is shaped with hand and rotary instruments under…
General Dentistry
Treatment of the Immature Tooth with a Non–Vital Pulp and Apical Periodontitis
Traditional methods of treatment of immature root with necrotic pulp and apical periodontitis pose multiple challenges. These challenges include disinfection of the root canal with standard protocols that aggressively use…
Essentials of Endodontic Microsurgery
While endodontic microsurgery has been making tremendous strides in the past 20 years, there are still basic concepts that are confusing or frustrating for the novice and experienced surgeon alike….
Case Studies in Modern Molar Endodontic Access and Directed Dentin Conservation
The following case studies provide insight into the integration of the principles set forward in the preceding article. Each case is evaluated first on the endorestorative principles that form the…
Modern Molar Endodontic Access and Directed Dentin Conservation
During patient treatment, the clinician needs to consider the operator needs, the restoration needs, and the tooth needs. This article discusses molar access and failures of endodontically treated teeth that…
The Use of the Operating Microscope in Endodontics
In the last 15 years, there has been an explosion of new technologies, instruments, and materials for nonsurgical and surgical endodontics. These developments have improved the precision with which endodontics…
Local Anesthesia Strategies for the Patient With a “Hot” Tooth
Attaining local anesthesia for the treatment of teeth diagnosed with irreversible pulpitis (“hot” tooth) can be a challenge. This article looks at the strategies a dentist can use to help…
Advanced Techniques for Detecting Lesions in Bone
Imaging is an important clinical aid for the diagnosis of endodontic bone lesions. Traditional radiology performs more accurately than any other diagnostic tool. Computed tomography has been used for the…
Glass-Ionomer Cements as Restorative and Preventive Materials
This article focuses on glass-ionomer cement (GIC) and its role in the clinical management of caries. It begins with a brief description of GIC, the mechanism of fluoride release and…
Treatment Protocols: Nonfluoride Management of the Caries Disease Process and Available Diagnostics
This article reviews the evidence for saliva diagnostics and some antibacterial concepts with potential to interfere with the caries process. It concludes that there is incomplete evidence to evaluate the…
Assessment and Management of Dental Erosion
Studies have shown a growing trend toward increasing prevalence of dental erosion, associated with the declining prevalence of caries disease in industrialized countries. Erosion is an irreversible chemical process that…
The Chemistry of Caries: Remineralization and Demineralization Events with Direct Clinical Relevance
Dental caries is a site-specific disease that undergoes many cycles of demineralization and remineralization during lesion development. Because of its developmental characteristics dynamics, the caries lesion can be arrested and…
Clinical Threshold for Carious Tissue Removal
There would appear to be little logic in the current practice of caries removal. Biologically, it would appear to be potentially damaging even to attempt to remove all infected dentin…
Strategies for Noninvasive Demineralized Tissue Repair
This article provides a state-of-the-art overview of clinically relevant evidence regarding effective, noninvasive management strategies to prevent, arrest, and remineralize caries lesions. With the rapidly increasing knowledge about oral biofilms…
The Caries Environment: Saliva, Pellicle, Diet, and Hard Tissue Ultrastructure
The pathogenicity of the dental biofilm is modified by salivary and dietary factors, as well as by the characteristics of the tooth structure. The composition of the acquired pellicle can…
Detection Activity Assessment and Diagnosis of Dental Caries Lesions
This article reviews the current methods for detection and assessment of caries lesions focusing on applicability for daily clinical practice. The end point is to arrive at a diagnosis for…
Microbiology of Dental Plaque Biofilms and Their Role in Oral Health and Caries
Dental plaque is the biofilm found naturally on teeth. Dental plaque is also implicated in dental caries, which is associated with shifts in the microbial balance of the biofilm resulting…
Defining Dental Caries for 2010 and Beyond
This introductory article provides an overview of the caries disease process that will help guide readers into the world of evidence-based caries management in the beginning of the twenty-first century…
Advanced Techniques and Armamentarium for Dental Local Anesthesia
Computer-controlled local anesthetic delivery (C-CLAD) devices and systems for intraosseous (IO) injection are important additions to the dental anesthesia armamentarium. C-CLAD using slow infusion rates can significantly reduce the discomfort…
Local Anesthesia Administration by Dental Hygienists
Within the last 30 years, the role of dental hygienists has expanded to include the administration of local anesthesia. Several studies have been performed to assess practice characteristics and effectiveness…
