The Newest Trends in The World of Endodontics
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Endodontics doesn’t often get enough attention in dentistry due to its limited application and use for patients. Endodontics still plays a vital role in helping those with complex cases of tooth pain receive treatment, but when it comes to the latest trends, many are often out of the loop regarding advancements within this field. Luckily, we’re here to share with you some of the latest trends that have been happening in endodontics and provide you with an insider’s look into what makes this field of dentistry so prominent and vital towards our care.
The Limitations and Expansion of Endodontics
Endodontics is a fascinating field, especially if you’re interested in maintaining good oral care and understanding the root of the problem. As a clinical practice, endodontists have developed a preference for their techniques, products, and methods for treating their patients. Endodontists running their own practices also have to learn how to manage their practices practically, managing the financial aspects of their business while maintaining their customer base.
Endodontics is primarily the reason why dentistry has returned to more conservative methods for treating teeth. Studies researching the clinical observations of endodontics observe that when it comes to this field, eliminating the disease and understanding its pathology to better control outcomes is primarily the reason that propelled this field onward. However, when faced with the possibility of failure due to vertical root fractures and unnecessary crown removal, maintaining the integrity of the tooth has become ever more challenging.
So, where does endodontics go from here? This field still needs extensive research, field-testing, and case studies to help further its progression to help patients with complex tooth problems, including calcified root canals, fractured teeth, and severe pulp infections. Oral health is an underappreciated issue today. As general dentists and other specialties continue to advance their own education through extracurricular courses and certifications, endodontists dedicated to this field have to work just as hard to match the demands of their patients and dental communities. This means researching the latest techniques, following up with other endodontists in the field on their work, and keep up with the trends others are following to support their businesses and their patients.
The Future of Endodontics Through Observing Trends
Our professional landscape is ever-evolving, and within endodontics, there has been some significant progress made in both profession, technique, instrumentation, and materials. Here’s what’s currently happening in the world of endodontics:
Women Leadership Roles
Over the past ten years, there has been an increasing proportion of women in the dental workforce. According to the ADA, about 35% of dentists in the field are women, compared to 24% back in 2010. This trend is now making up the general workforce as dental school enrollment’s now at a 50-50 gender split and a steady increase in women graduates in the dental field. Through these efforts, this growth has been able to address the need for growing diversity in the dental workforce. Within endodontics, the American Association of Endodontists boasts three female leaders who previously served its board of directors and trustees. This increase in female leadership throughout associations indicates a larger number of women in endodontics, ultimately challenging the way dentistry is perceived.
Evidence-Based Endodontics
Endodontics has also embraced a relatively new concept, ultimately redefining the diagnosis procedure by bringing relevant literature into the process. This concept, called evidence-based endodontics, integrates information with the problem at hand and then makes clinical decisions about the patient’s oral health. This relatively new concept has allowed general dentists and endodontists to make the best treatment choices with scientific data at hand. Studies looking into evidence-based endodontics has defined it through these steps:
- Ask a Specific Question: a specific question is asked to narrow down the diagnosis process. This question would pertain to the patient’s case but allow room for research into solutions.
- Research Evidence For Answers: From there, relevant and supported evidence through multiple studies is used to provide answers and relative data related to the issue.
- Decide Based On Evidence: Once all information and data are gathered, the endodontist will use that information to create an informed decision regarding their care.
Mineral Trioxide Aggregate
When it comes to the materials used in endodontic treatment, mineral trioxide aggregate has begun to surface. This material, often referred to as endodontic cement, contains fine hydrophilic particles that harden in the presence of dampness, saliva, or blood. This cementing material, often used to fill the inside of a root canal, is biocompatible, radiopaque, and hardens quicker than other amalgams and cement. It induces hard tissue formation and creates an artificial barrier that can be used when treating immature teeth with apexification.
Microscopes in Endodontics
Microscopes aren’t a new concept in dentistry, but how microscopes are being used is drastically changing. Originally used for diagnosis and nonsurgical procedures, introducing the use of microscopes into surgical procedures, including inflammatory tissue removal, osteotomies, and root end preparation and filling, have helped endodontists have a better inside look into the tooth itself to identify abnormal root canal formations and other issues within the tooth’s root. Due to its new introduction into this aspect of endodontics, they have improved surgical outcomes and potential retreatment cases.
Apex Locators
Apex locators have always been useful in determining how far instruments should be used when performing a root canal procedure. Radiography is often used by endodontists to determine the length of the root canal. Still, electronic apex locators have been introduced to ease diagnosis and provide advancement in the endodontic field. Digital technology has begun being introduced to the wider scope of endodontics, and through this, endodontic surgeries have significantly improved.
Rotary Instruments
When referring to the manual aspects of endodontic surgery, nickel-titanium rotary instruments have been making the rounds within endodontic offices. These instruments have been able to help improve the cleaning and shaping process for root canal systems and help reduce the possibility of procedure failure among patients with root problems, including infected pulp, calcified canals, and failed endodontic treatment.
As this is only a sampling of the latest concepts, general dentists and endodontists have continued to research into trends more recent in their field, as it takes a significant amount of skill and knowledge to provide patients with comfort, safety, and aesthetics in mind.
