Transcript Today - American Association of Endodontists

Endodontics and the
Dental Student
•[Insert presenter name,
degree]
•[Insert practice name]
•[Insert date]
1
What We’ll Cover Today
• Endodontic facts
• Endodontists and general practitioners
• Using the Case Difficulty Assessment
Form
• Careers in academia
Endodontic Facts
• Endodontics is the science of treating
problems associated with the pulp
tissue inside the tooth.
• There are approximately 4,000 active
endodontists in the United States.
• In the past 20 years, the number of
endodontists has grown by 84 percent.
Endodontic Facts
• There are 50 postdoctoral endodontic training
programs nationwide.
• Nearly 400 postdoctoral dental students are
enrolled in these programs.
• The number of root canals performed in the
United States is growing (root canals increased
by 13 percent between 1990 and 1999).
• Root canals account for 95 percent of procedures
performed by endodontists.
Endodontists and General
Practitioners
• Endodontists and general practitioners enjoy a
strong reciprocal relationship.
• More than 95 percent of general practitioners
refer patients to endodontists each year.
• While younger general practitioners may wish
to perform their own endodontics, the quality
of treatment is held to the standard of care of
the specialist.
Endodontists and General
Practitioners
• Endodontists have up to three additional years of
specialized training in performing root canals and
complex endodontic procedures.
• Endodontists are technical leaders in the
profession and are knowledgeable about the
latest treatment techniques and instruments.
• Once in practice, endodontists perform an
average of 25 root canals per week. General
practitioners perform two.
Endodontists and General
Practitioners
• Endodontists treat more complex
endodontic cases, while general
practitioners treat basic cases.
• The Case Difficulty Assessment Form is
designed to help general practitioners
determine when to refer root canals to
endodontists.
Benefits Of Referring To An
Endodontist
Most endodontists:
– accept emergency referrals;
– provide immediate relief to patients in pain;
– utilize advanced endodontic technologies;
– share in the responsibility of treating
complex cases; and
– help keep general dentists’ practices on
schedule.
Good Referring Dentists
Good referring dentists:
– are educated to recognize the complexity
of a case;
– have enough experience to understand
their own abilities and limitations; and
– are aware of advanced equipment
available to complete treatment effectively.
The Case Difficulty
Assessment Form
The Assessment Form helps practitioners assign a level
of difficulty to an individual case.
– Minimal difficulty: routine complexity with
predictable outcome
– Moderate difficulty: preoperative condition is
complicated; predictable outcome is challenging
– High difficulty: preoperative condition is
exceptionally complicated; predictable outcome is
challenging for even the most experienced
practitioner
The Case Difficulty
Assessment Form
Assess each case to determine its
level of difficulty. If the level of
difficulty exceeds your experience,
education level and comfort, refer
the patient to an endodontist.
The Case Difficulty
Assessment Form
Patient considerations
– Medical history (using ASA Classification
System)
– Anesthesia
– Patient disposition
– Ability to open mouth
– Gag reflex
– Emergency condition
The Case Difficulty
Assessment Form
Diagnostic and treatment considerations
– Diagnosis
– Radiographic difficulties
– Position in the arch
– Tooth isolation
– Morphologic aberrations of crown
– Canal and root morphology
– Radiographic appearance of canal(s)
– Resorption
The Case Difficulty
Assessment Form
Additional considerations
–Trauma history
–Endodontic treatment history
–Periodontal-endodontic
condition
The Case Difficulty
Assessment Form
Case study: abnormal anatomy
Photo courtesy of Dr. Sashi Nallapati
•Patient presents for root
canal treatments in lower
first and second
bicuspids.
•It is expected that there
would be two canals in
the first bicuspid, one
canal in the second.
The Case Difficulty
Assessment Form
Case study: abnormal anatomy
•Upon treatment, it is
discovered that each
bicuspid has three
canals.
Photo courtesy of Dr. Sashi Nallapati
The Case Difficulty
Assessment Form
Case study: abnormal anatomy
Why should you refer this
case?
• Endodontists are exposed to
the most leading-edge
studies on internal anatomy
and have the expertise to
handle such cases.
• Endodontists have
enhanced surgical
equipment, such as
microscopes, for use in
Photo courtesy of Dr. Sashi Nallapati treatment to meet patients’
specialized needs.
The Case Difficulty
Assessment Form
Case study: medically compromised
patient
A female diabetic patient presents with
intra-oral swelling and is in pain. She
also is very anxious about dental
treatment. She has a limited range of
opening due to TMJ.
The Case Difficulty
Assessment Form
Case study: medically compromised patient
Why should you refer this case?
• Because of her acute pain, anxiety and
swelling, the patient is difficult to anesthetize.
Endodontists have specialized training in
administering anesthesia and have the
necessary experience to properly manage the
risks involved with this case.
The Case Difficulty
Assessment Form
Case study: medically compromised
patient
Why should you refer this case?
• The patient has limited range of opening
secondary to mylo-facial pain
dysfunction. Endodontists frequently
work with cases of similar difficulty and
can creatively address each situation
more efficiently.
Careers in Academia
Become a full- or part-time endodontic educator.
– Part-time positions allow you to teach while
maintaining a private practice.
– Most universities offer flexible schedules for
part-time and adjunct faculty.
– Part-time teaching positions complement
private practice by exposing endodontists to
a wide variety of complex cases and
conditions.
Careers in Academia
By pursuing an academic career in
endodontics you will:
– shape the minds of tomorrow’s professionals;
– influence dental education policies;
– develop advances in oral health through
research;
– benefit from life-long learning;
– help alleviate the crisis in dental education; and
– give back to your community, profession and
specialty.
Careers in Academia
For more information, visit
www.aae.org
or the American Dental Education
Association at www.adea.org.
Q&A
• [Insert presenter name, degree,
–address,
–website and
–phone number.]