Endodontics

Root Canal Illustration

The branch of dentistry dealing with diagnosis and treatment diseases of the dental pulp. Root canal treatment is one of the most popular endodontic procedures performed by endodontists.

Root canal on a patient

Etiology

“Endo” in Greek means “inside” and “odont” means “tooth.” Endodontic treatment, also called root canal treatment, treats the soft pulp tissue inside the tooth.

Endodontists

Endodontists are dentists that completed additional 2-3 years of training in the field of endodontics. The specialized endodontics training focuses on diagnosing cause of tooth pain and root canal treatment which can save the tooth in most cases. Hence, endodontists pride themselves as specialists in saving teeth.

Diseases of Pulp

This includes progression of dental caries reaching the pulp.

1. Reversible Pulpitis
2. Irreversible Pulpitis
3. Pulpal Necrosis

Root canal therapy

Peri-Radicular Diseases

This includes progression of Pulpal diseases reaching the tooth apex.

1. Acute/Chronic Apical Periodontitis
2. Acute/Chronic Periapical abscess
3. Periapical Granuloma
4. Periapical Cyst
5. Osteomyelitis
6. Space Infection

Ellis classification of Pulpal injury

• Class 1: Fracture of crown involving enamel
• Class 2: Fracture of crown involving enamel and dentin
• Class 3: Fracture of crown involving enamel, dentin and pulp
• Class 4: Non-vital tooth
• Class 5: Avulsion of tooth
• Class 6: Fracture of the root with or without loss of crown
• Class 7: Displacement of the tooth without fracture of crown or root
• Class 8: Fracture of Crown en masse
• Class 9: Trauma involving primary tooth

Endodontic treatments

Different treatment modalities that comes under Endodontics.

1. Indirect Pulp capping
2. Direct pulp capping
3. root canal treatment
4. Apexification
5. Apexogenesis
6. Apicoectomy
7. Pulpal regeneration
8. Bleaching

Latest advances

Learn about latest advances in dentistry