Endodontics Flashcards
What is the difference between:
- Step Back
- Serial Step Back
In canal preparation?
Which comes first?
Serial Step Back is first!
- Serial Step Back = Increase in size 10 patency file → MAF (usually size 25) - File thickness increases but length (WL) remains the same!
- Step Back = Incremental increase in file size and reduction in length to create 5% canal taper
What is meant by “Internal Resorption”?
What are 2 clinical signs?
Dentine resorption by dentinoclasts/odontoclasts stimulated by pulpal inflammation
- “Pink spot” on tooth
- Punched out lesion continous with pulp cavity
What area of RCT prep are SX files used for?
Outline some of their features (material, length, motion)?
Prep of coronal 1/3rd - 2/3rd canal
- Nickel Titanium (flexible)
- 19mm (D0 = 0.19mm
- 9 files, rapidly decreasing taper
- In and Out motion used
Why are RCT teeth weaker? (4)
How is this issue addressed?
- Loss of tooth structure
- Loss of proprioception
- Loss of pulp roof → Cuspal flexure more prone to fracture
- Wider isthmus and Loss of marginal ridge
Add Core or Crown tooth (cuspal coverage)
What is the main cause of RCT failure?
How can this be avoided? (3)
Coronal leakage - therefore good seal (apical and coronal) is VITAL
Avoided by:
- Caries removal
- Rubber dam
- Interim restoration (e.g. 2mm IRM/GIC) with sound restoration on top
What is pulp capping?
What are the two main types?
Pulp capping = Process of protecting pulp from injury or necrosis after being exposed or nearly exposed during cavity prep
- Direct - Exposed pulp directly covered
- Indirect - Pulp NOT exposed (thin layer of residually mineralised/sound dentine left)
What is meant by “Hyperplastic Pulp”?
What are the 2 treatment options?
“Pulp Polyp”
Form of irreversible pulpitis due to proliferation of chronically inflammed young pulp tissue
Treatment: RCT (Pulpotomy/Pulpectomy) or XLA
What is the difference between a Periapical “TRUE” and “POCKET” Cyst? (Define both)
Which therefore more likely to respond to RCT?
What pulpal condition usually leads to their formation?
Both are inflammatory apical cysts…
PERIAPICAL TRUE CYST = A distinct pathological cavity which is completely enclosed in epithelial cells and has NO communication with the root canals
PERIAPICAL POCKET CYST = A sac-like epithelial-lined cavity that is OPEN TO and communicates with the root canals - Therefore better responds to RCT
Usually proceeds “Chronic Periapical Periodontitis”/ “Chronic Granuloma”
Is cracked tooth easy or hard to localise?
What tooth is most commonly affected?
HARD!
Mandibular 7s
What are 4 histopathological features of Acute Pulpitis?
- Hyperaemia (increased vascularity)
- Vascular stasis - risk factor for blood clots
- Oedema
- Increased cellular infiltrate (T lymphocytes and Macrophages)
- “WHEATSHEATHING” of Odontoblasts -Oedemous changes in Odontoblast layer (more commonly associated with non-carious causes)
How do we treat RCT perforations?
Immediate repair with GIC or MTA
MTA only used when repair site enclosed in bone (no oral cavity contact with saliva)
Calcium Hydroxide has a high pH, what 2 things can it be mixed with when used as an intracanal medicament?
- Sterile water (often done)
- Barium Sulphate → Radiopacity for radiographs
What are the 3 treatment options for REVERSIBLE Pulpitis?
- Indirect Pulp Capping (Stepwise excavation)
- Direct Pulp Capping (Remove stimulus)
- Remove stimulus and Dress tooth
What are the 3 main aims of RCT?
- Remove and destroy microorganisms from complex root canal systems
- Seal root canal system - prevent bacterial re-entry
- Give body an opportunity to heal
After obturation, what is placed below the canal orifice and below the coronal restoration?
IRM (ZOE)
What are 3 indications for RCT?
- Irreversibly damaged/necrotic pulp
- Elective devitalisation (provide space for a post in crowns)
- Dubious pulp prognosis prior to tooth preparation
What are 4 possible sealers used in RCT?
- Calcium Hydroxide - Also used as intra-canal medicament between appointments
- Zinc Oxide Eugenol
- Glass Ionomer
- Resin Sealers
What might a NARROW periodontal pocket be indicative of? (2)
How can you differenciate between the two?
- Periodontal/Endodontic Sinus Tract
- Cracked tooth
Differentiating - Cracked tooth:
- No draining pus
- Pain related to biting/release of pressure
- Non-vital = “Halo” and “J-shape” radiolucency
- Improved with Ortho band placement
How can safe irrigation be achieved? (5)
- Use side venting needle
- Never bind irrigation needle (continuous movement)
- Irrigate slowly (avoid high pressure)
- Never inject solution
- 27 guage = 0.4mm diameter
Outline Canal Prep in RCT:
- Access cavity
- Irrigate (sodium hypochlorite)
- Explore canal orifices with DG16
- Find canals: Patency with size 10 K-Flex file
- Coronal prep (1/3rd - 2/3rd) with SX Rotary
- Explore apical 1/3rd and establish patency
- Determine WL (4)
- “Serial Step Back” - Increase file size to find Master Apical File (MAF) Usually Size 25! (The largest size file you can reach WL)
- “Step Back” - Create 5% Taper
- Circumferential smoothing of canal with size 20/25 file 1mm from WL
N.B. Between each stage, Irrigate and check patency
Name 3 histopathological features of CHRONIC Periapical Periodontitis
(HINT: 4 chronic inflammatory cells
- Chronic Inflammatory Cells
- Lymphocytes (B & T Cells)
- Plasma Cells
- Fibroblasts
- Macrophages
- (surrounded by) Granulomatous Tissue
- Epithelised OR Non-epithelised
Posts may be added for RETENTION. How is post retention increased?
- Greater post length
- Parallel sided post (vs. taper)
- Rough surface
- Threaded post (vs. self-threaded)
N.B. Posts do NOT improve fracture resistance!
Majority of pulpal infection is INTRA-radicular, what are 2 instances when the infection becomes EXTRA-radicular?
How do they differ in Treatment outcomes? (2)
- Alveolar Abscess (Micro or Dento-Alveolar)
- Radicular Cyst (Periapical True or Pocket Cysts)
They may be
- Responsive to intra-canal treatment (abscess with drainage or pocket cyst)
- Persistant, requiring periradicular surgery or XLA (cysts, particularly true cyst)
How can an Electronic Apex Locator be used to determine the working length?
Name 1 contraindicaion for its use…
What might cause incorrect readings (“Short Circuits”)? (4)
- Place in canal till “Zero” reading
- WL = 1mm from Zero reading
Contraindicated in Px with cardiac pacemakers
- Perforation
- Canal too moist
- Large lateral canal
- Contact with metal restoration
Name 2 materials used in pulp capping?
What do they do? (3)
- Calcium Hydroxide (setting)
- Mineral Trioxide Aggregate (MTA)
- Bacteriostatic (Calcium Hydroxide also initially Bactericidal)
- “Dentine bridge” formation - soft affected dentine arrested (hardens)
- High pH → Neutralise low acid pH
Name 2 antibacterial irrigants, where one DOES dissolve organic tissue remnantas and one does NOT.
DOES = Sodium Hypochlorite (0.5-5.25%)
DOESN’T = Chlorhexidine (0.2-2%)
What are the 5 advantages/features of Rubber Dam use?
- Prevents inhalation/ingestion
- Prevents infection with saliva
- Enhances access and retracts soft tissues
- Better Px comfort
- Medico-legal requirement
N.B. Only ONE tooth isolated in endo
What is the “Ferrule Effect”?
The need to have enough sound tooth structure above the alveolar bone to minimise risk of tooth fracture after RCT when placing a crown.
Ferrule = metal band totally encircling tooth (think crown margin prep)
- 2mm dentine parallel axial wall
- Does NOT impinge on biological width
What % of patients will experience flare ups (to various severities) post-RCT?
How is this treated? (3)
3-5%
- Painkillers
- Re-access tooth
- Drainage & Antibiotics
What are the recognisable signs/symptoms in the diagnosis of:
- REVERSIBLE Pulpitis?
- IRREVERSIBLE Pulpitis
(Pain type, Time lasting, Onset)
REVERSIBLE PULPITIS
- Short, sharp pain (lasting seconds)
- Provoked by hot/cold stimuli
- Following recent restoration or signs of TSL visible
IRREVERSIBLE PULPITIS
- Dull, throbbing pain (longer lasting, days - weeks)
- Spontaneous onset - May be provoked by hot/cold or made worse on lying down
- Following recent restoration or history of reversible pulpitits
- Often hard to localise to specific tooth and may radiate to other areas (e.g. jaw, face, ear)
What are the 4 main Irrigants used in RCT and their concentrations?
Which is the main one used?
Which is often used as a final irrigant (smear layer removal) or to clear obturated (re-RCT) or sclerosed roots?
Which is used in therapy resistant cases?
- Sodium Hypochlorite (0.5-5.25% - Usually 2.5% & 3.5% used in clinics) - MAIN
- Chlorhexidine (0.2 - 2%)
- EDTA (Ethylenediaminetetraacetic Acid) (17%) - FINAL IRRIGANT (useful in smear layer removal or for sclerosed canals)
- Aq Iodine-based Compound (10%) - Used in therapy resistant cases as broad-spec antibacterial
How does the quantity and quality (type) of bacteria differ coronally and apically?
Coronal
- MORE bacteria
- Facultative anaerobes (these are also 1st microbes present)
Apical
- Less bacteria
- Obligate anaerobes (as O2 decreases)
Most bacterium present in Coronal 1/3rd, therefore “Crown Down” approach used
How does the smear layer influence dentine permeability?
Why is its presence good and bad?
How do we get rid of it?
Smear layer blocks dentine tubules → Reduced permeability
GOOD: Less pulpal communication → Inflammation (e.g. restorative material leakage)
BAD: Encourages microorganism activity
Removed via Acid-Etch
What are the 2 regulating bodies for Stainless Steel hand files?
To what measurements are their:
- Cutting length
- Full length
- Instrument taper
regulated?
- ISO (International Organisation for Standardisation)
- ANSI (American National Standards Institute)
- Cutting Length = 16mm
- Full Length = 21, 25 or 31mm
- FIXED Taper = 2% (0.02mm increase in diamter per 1mm increase length)
What are the 2 main types of abscess that can arise from Acute Periapical Periodontitis?
How do they differ?
- Micro Abscess = PMNs restricted to small area
- Dento-Alveolar Abscess = PMNs spread to engulf whole periapical region
The latter infection may then spread to local (Sinusitis) or distant (Cellulitis) regions of the body
What is the helical angle of SS Flexofile?
How does this differ to SS Reamers?
45°
Larger than reamers (10-30°)
In what circumstances should a Px be refered to maxfax?
Suspected Ludwig’s Angina
- Pyrexia
- Limited opening
- Difficulty swallowing
- Large swelling (around eye or midline under chin)
What is an alternative rotary file to SX?
What are its widths? How do these relate to widths of SX files?
Gates Glidden (also used to prep coronal 1/3rd - 2/3rd)
GG1 (50) = 1.5mm - same as SX D6
GG2 (70) = 1.3 - SX D7
GG3 (50) = 1.1 - SX D8
GG4 (110) = 0.9 - SX D9
GG5 (130) = 0.7
GG6 (150) = 0.5
What are 5 contra-indications for RCT?
- Tooth cannot be restored/made functional
- Insufficient periodontal support
- Complex anatomy (e.g. dens in dente)
- Uncooperative patient
- Poor oral hygiene which cannot be improved
How do
- Pain symptoms
- Treatment
differ between a VITAL and NON-VITAL Cracked Tooth?
PAIN SYMPTOMS:
VITAL = Sharp pain on biting and release
NON-VITAL = Dull ache on biting
TREATMENT:
VITAL = Ortho/Cu band applied and Cuspal coverage restoration (e.g. crown)
NON-VITAL = XLA or consider hemi-section
What is the success rate of:
- Primary RCT?
- Secondary RCT?
- 85-95%
- 77-80%
What are the 4 requirements of post placement after RCT?
- No space between GP and Post
- Minimum 4-5mm GP
- Post length: 2/3rd root (or no less than crown height)
- Equal amount of post above and below alveolar crest
What are the main components (and their %) in MTA?
75% Portland Cement
20% Bismuth Oxide
5% Calcium Sulphate
What is the difference between rotary and hand files? (3)
- Rotary files = Less tactile sensation
- Hand files = FIXED taper (Stainless Steel = 2%)
- Hand files = Stainless Steel (vs. SX Rotary = Nickel Titanium alloy)
Which type of hand file is used in size 10 for “Patency” ?
What are the 4 main aims of Patency?
K-Flex
- Prevents blockage
- Check if exudate present
- Helps maintain and follow anatomy
- Delivers irrigant apically
What are the 3 main types of Stainless Steel files?
What is the cross section of each?
Which is the most flexible?
Which is mainly used for RE-RCT (GP removal)?
Which is non-twisted?
Which has a non-cutting tip?
Which should be used with a Push-Pull motion ONLY?
- Flexofile - Square, Triangle, Square (see later Q)
- K-Flex - 2 cutting edges (parallelogram/diamond)
- Hedstrom - Speech bubble
Most flexible = Flexofile (duhh)
RE-RCT = Hedstrom
Non-twisted = Hedstrom (grounded)
Non-cutting tip = Flexofile
Push-Pull motion only = Hedstrom
How does the cross section of Flexofiles differ depending on file sizes?
Size 6-10 = SQUARE (Flexible)
15-40 = TRIANGLE
45-140 = SQUARE (Rigid)
What 2 irrigants should not be used together?
Which 2 irrigants should be used together? Why?
Chlorhexidine should NOT be used with Sodium Hypochrlorite
Aqueous Iodine-based Compound should be flushed with Sodium Hypochlorite after use to avoid brown discolouration