Endo Flashcards
According to Dr. Seet, what is the definition of Endodontics?
Prevention and/or elimination of apical periodontitis
What are the TWO types of nerve fibres for nociception
- A-delta fibres
- Myelinated, lower threshold
- Sharp pain - C-fibres
- Unmyelinated, higher threshold
- dull, aching, throbbing pain
True or false: Pulpal pain never crosses midline.
True
Describe the THREE main aspects of the diagnostic process
- History taking (MHx, DHx, HISTORY OF CC -> DDx)
- Clinical examination
- Radiographic examination
THEN, correlate all findings -> definitive diagnosis
Why might patients have trouble specifically locating where (pulpal) pain is coming from?
Pulp has nerves but not proprioception. Pt can only report pain coming from a region, not a single tooth.
True or false: People usually wake up if dental pain is caused by bruxing
False
What are the THREE P’s of periodontal diagnostic testing? (according to Dr. Sarbin)
Percussion
Palpation
Periodontal probing
What is an example of a vitality test and what does it do?
Laser doppler test - detects blood flow to the pulp
What nerve fibres does a cold and electric test stimulate respectively?
Both A-delta fibres
What is SLOB and what does it mean?
Same Lingual Opposite Buccal
- the lingual root will always move in the same direction as the shift (e.g. lingual root will move mesially in a mesial shift)
Other than the THREE P’s and radiographs, name a few other clinical tests used in periodontal diagnostic testing.
- Mobility
- Colour change
- Draining sinus tracing (with GP point)
- FracFinder/Tooth Slooth (pain on biting = perio, pain on release = cracked cusp)
- Transillumination
- Removal of restorations
- LA test (mainly only useful for upper teeth)
- Test cavity (done with no LA)
What are FIVE pathways through which bacteria can get to the pulp?
- Caries
- Cracked cusp
- Severe tooth wear (mild toothwear is protected from bacterial entry by positive pressure from dentinal fluid)
- Defective restorations
- Developmental abnormalities (e.g. dens invaginatus, but also dens evaginatus -> predisposed to toothwear)
What is the healthy pulp response to sensibility testing?
- React to cold and EPT with mild pain, pain shouldn’t last longer than 1-2 secs
- No or mild reaction to heat testing
True or false: Teeth that have dentinal sensitivity have a lower EPT threshold.
False, they will have normal EPT results.
True or false: Reversible pulpitis lowers the threshold for a-delta fibres.
True
Reversible pulpitis should always be a “provisional diagnosis” because you can’t be sure that it’s not going to turn irreversible. How soon should the recall be after making such a provisional diagnosis?
3 months (Dr. Seet) 1 month (Dr. Fedele-Rossi)
True or false: Irreversible pulp is still vital.
True, only necrotic pulp is non-vital. But recovery from irreversible pulp is not likely due to extensive inflammation.
Name SEVEN symptoms that differentiate irreversible pulpitis from reversible pulpitis.
- Spontaneous pain
- Wakes patient from sleep
- Postural changes can trigger pain (increased blood pressure to pulp)
- Pain from heat stimuli (dull, throbbing, ache)
- Pain lingers
- Analgesics may or may not work
- Can have delayed response to EPT
Why is it not recommended to perform RCT without RD?
The purpose of RCT is to prevent bacteria from infiltrating the root canal. RD will help make this happen.
What are TWO reasons why LA might not work as effectively in pulpitis?
- Inflammation causes lower pH -> less RN -> less diffusion
- Inflammation causes calcium channels to stay open, so LA cannot close them (Dr. Seet)
What is another name for necrobiosis?
Partial necrosis
How can there be sterile necrotic pulp?
Trauma may displace tooth and sever the neurovascular bundle travelling through the apical foramen.