Endodontics Flashcards
What are the three main reasons for RCT?
- To remove aetiological factors to allow healing to take place
- Prevent re-infection of root canal system
- Allow tooth to become a healthy functioning unit
How do you ensure prevention of re-infection during RCT?
By placing an effective coronal and apical seal
Name 5 TRUE contraindications of RCT?
- Insufficient periodontal support
- Non restorable teeth
- Vertical root fracture
- Poorly motivated patient with poor OH
- Non strategic teeth with no current or possible future function
What treatment option is most suitable for a tooth that cannot be restored to function by RCT?
Extraction
What classifies a “non-restorable tooth”?
A tooth with:
1. Extensive caries/root caries
2. Massive resorptive defects
3. Poor crown/root ratio
If a patients tooth has vertical root fracture, what is the only treatment option?
Extraction
In what situation would a third molar undergo RCT instead of extraction?
If it is a functional tooth
what age of patient tend to have immature roots with open apices ?
Young patients
how may the pulp/root canals appear in patients of older age?
Shallow pulp chambers and narrow root canals
Name 4 patient related potential contraindications
- Age
- Physical limitations
- Patient financial status
- Patient motivation and availability
Name 7 abnormal canal configurations
- Torturous canals
- Dens invaginatus
- Severely curved canals
- C-shaped canals
- Taurodontism
- Lingual developmental groove
- Aberrant extra canals
what are the most common teeth to be affected by aberrant extra canals?
- Upper premolars with 3 canals
A malformation resulting from an unfolding of the dental papillae during tooth development
Dens invaginatus
Malformation in shape of tooth where it has a long pulp chamber that divides into multiple canals in the apical third of the tooth
Taurodontism
Name 13 contraindications for RCT due to complex treatment, that may need referral.
- abnormal canal configurations
- Immature apex
- Root resorption
- Hypercalcification (canal obliteration)
- Crown/root ratio that is > 1:1
- Tooth malpositioning
- Re treatment of root canals
- Iatrogenic problems
- Traumatic injuries
- Endodontic-periodontics lesions
- Persistent signs and/or symptoms
- Approximation to vital structures
- Existing restorations making pulp chambers difficult to locate and access
What is internal root resorption?
Resorption seen on the wall of the root canal
What is external root resorption?
Resorption on external surface of the root
what is the most common cause of an obliterated root canal?
Trauma
What are the different types of endodontic-periodontic lesions?
- Primary Endo/secondary perio
- Primary perio/secondary Endo
- Combined lesion
what is the general rule for deciding whether a lesion has initiated from an endodontic point of view, or a periodontics point of view? (There are exceptions to this rule!)
- if its more perio focused, the tooth may still be VITAL
- if its more Endo focused, the tooth will probably be NON-VITAL
What anatomical structure is often in approximation to teeth that could be treated for RCT?
Maxillary sinus
What medications do you have to be particularly wary of when planning to do RCT? And why?
Anticoagulants and anti-platelets, due to the bleeding risk
What does the INR score need to be for a patient taking warfarin in order for minor dental surgical procedures to take place?
<4.0
Patients who are taking warfarin, with an INR <4, should be referred to the special care department for treatment if they have other particular conditions. What are these other particular conditions?
- Liver impairment/alcoholism
- Renal failure
- Thrombocytopenia
- Haemophilia
- If they are taking cytotoxic medications
When taking warfarin, what type of mouthwash should be avoided in routine use?
Tranexemic acid mouthwash
When a patient takes warfarin, what pain relief is appropriate/safe to take?
Paracetamol or dihydrocodeine
When a patient takes warfarin, what antibiotics are appropriate/safe to take?
Amoxicillin (provided there is no Penicillin allergy) or clindamycin
What does MRONJ stand for?
Medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw
what is MRONJ?
Exposed, necrotic bone in the maxilla or mandible that has persisted for more than 8 weeks following surgical procedure in patients taking anti-resorptive and anti-angiogenic drugs
What is the estimated incidence of MRONJ in a cancer patient treated with anti-resorptive or anti-angiogenic drugs?
1% (1 case per 100)
What is the estimated incidence of MRONJ in osteoperosis patients treated with anti-resorptive drugs?
0.01-0.1% (1-10 cases per 10,000)
What are the three main drug types associated with MRONJ?
- Bisphosphonates
- RANKL inhibitor
- Anti-angiogenic’s
what type of drug is Alendronic acid?
Bisphosphonate
How do Bisphosphonates work?
They reduce bone resorption by inhibiting enzymes essential for the formation, recruitment and function of osteoclasts.
What drug type is linked with delayed soft tissue healing and may inhibit angiogenesis?
Bisphosphonates
how can use of Bisphosphonates lead to MRONJ?
The drug accumulates at sites with high bone turnover, e.g. maxilla and mandible (jaws), this may reduce bone turnover and bone blood supply and lead to osteonecrosis
what is osteonecrosis?
Death of bone tissue
What is RANKL? And what is its role?
Receptor activator of nuclear factors knappa-B ligand, it regulates osteoclast formation, activation and survival.
Name the most commonly used RANKL inhibitor
Denosumab
what is the function of denosumab?
A human antibody which inhibits osteoclastic function and associated bone resorption by inhibiting RANKL
what is the function of anti-angiogenics?
Used in cancer treatment to restrict tumour vascularisation
How do anti-angiogenic drugs lead to MRONJ?
They reduce vascularisation in bone which can lead to osteonecrosis
what is the risk of developing infective endocarditis in the general population?
1:10,000
When there is history of MI, how long should routine treatment and use of adrenaline containing LA be avoided for?
6 months
What is Type IV latex allergy?
Allergic contact dermatitis
How would you treat someone with type IV latex allergy?
- use latex free rubber dam
what is type 1 latex allergy?
Anaphylactic reaction
How would you plan treatment for a patient with a type I latex allergy?
- patient required to be seen in a special latex free room
- observe patient closely and be prepared to manage anaphylaxis
What is apical periodontitis?
An inflammatory disease of microbial aetiology caused by infection of the root canal system, where microorganisms produce toxins which cause an inflammatory and immunological reaction, resulting in bone resorption around the roots
How would apical periodontitis appear on a radiograph?
As a periapical lucency
A Vital pulp offers protection against infection by one of what four ways?
- Outward movement of dentinal fluid
- Tubular contents which act as a blocking mechanism
- Productive of protective tertiary dentine
- Host defence molecules within the pulpal tissue
Dentine exposure does not normally represent a significant route of infection. What are the exceptions?
- when dentine thickness is reduced
- when dentine permeability is increased
Host defences function in the necrotic pulp.
True or false?
False, host defences do not function in the necrotic pulp
What three factors can cause pulpal inflammation? (In order of most common)
- micro-organisms
- Mechanical trauma
- Chemical irritation
Necrotic pulp + microbial infection = _____________
Apical periodontitis
Does bacterial invasion of dentinal tubules occur more rapidly in necrotic pulp or vital pulp?
Necrotic pulp
At what distance does bacteria need to be from the pulp in order for the pulp to become inflamed?
0.5mm away
where is the diameter of dentinal tubules at its largest?
Closest to the pulp
what are the three main chronic inflammatory cells that can infiltrate the base of carious tubules?
Macrophages, lymphocytes and plasma cells
What are the 5 main routes (caused by mechanical injury to the pulp) which can lead to root canal infection?
- traumatic accident
- iatrogenic damage during dental procedures
- excessive orthodontic procedures which can disrupt blood supply and damage tooth
- sub-gingival scaling
- attrition/abrasion
What two types of injury can happen to a tooth crown, leading to infection of pulp and root canals?
- Impact injury (microcracks in enamel and blood flow damages)
- Fracture of crown (results in pulpal exposure)
What dental factors can cause root infection?
- crown/bridge prep
- accidental exposure
- inadequate water spray on high speed drill
- over drying exposed dentine
- inadequate isolation of teeth from saliva
- failure to adequately protect and seal tubules
What two forms of chemical irritation can cause root infection?
- Erosion
- Inappropriate use of acidic dental materials (e.g. acid etch and bonding agents)
where do microbes colonise and persist in the pulp/root?
At the site of necrosis
The pulp can remain inflamed for a long time period, undergo necrosis slowly or quickly. What are the multiple factors that this depends on?
- Bacterial virulence
- Inflammatory response
- Host resistance
- Amount of circulation
- Lymphatic drainage
what are the two responses that the host generates upon infection?
- Inflammatory response
- Immunological response
What happens in the inflammatory host response to root infection?
Inflammatory response is non-specific, involves inflammatory mediators such as histamine, bradykinin etc.
What happens during the host immunological response to root infection?
- production of immunocompetent cells, which are produced as a response to bacterial toxins which acts as potential antigens
Give 3 examples of immunocompetent cells involves in the immunological host response?
- T & B lymphocytes
- Macrophages
- Dentritic cells
Pulpal necrosis causes apical periodontitis.
True or false?
False. Pulp necrosis does not directly cause this, but because the tissue becomes unable to defend itself it will quickly become infected by bacteria. The microbes cause apical periodontitis.
Give a 5 step summary of apical lesion progression once infection has occured.
- Increased tissue pressure
- Inability of pulpal tissue to expand
- Lack of collateral circulation
- Pulpal necrosis +microbes
- Periapical periodontitis
Why does the pulp not have the ability to repair?
Because the pulp is enclosed in a rigid mineralised structure
Why type of anaerobes are found in root canal system?
Strictly anaerobic bacteria (gram-ve bacteria)
Name some common Endodontic microbes
- prevotella
- porphyramonas
- fusobacterium
- veilonella
- peptostreptococcus
- eubacterium
- Actinomyces
- lactobacillus
- streptococcus
Is the bacterial count higher in the apical or coronal region of a tooth?
Coronal
Where are most microbes located within the root canal system?
In suspension (planktonic bacteria)
Define, “a sessile multi-cellular microbial community characterised by cells that are firmly attached to a surface and enmeshed in a self-produced matrix of Extracellular polymeric substances (EPS)”
A biofilm
Define, ‘a branch of dental science concerned with the study of form, function, health of, injuries to and diseases of the dental pulp and periradicular tissues.’
Endodontology
define, ‘ the clinical discipline that deals with the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of endodontic disease.’
Endodontics
When the dental pulp of a tooth is irreversibly damaged (irreversible pulpitis or pulpal necrosis) or has periapical disease, what treatment is required?
Root canal treatment
What is elective root canal treatment and what is it required for?
Procedure that is scheduled in advance. This procedure is required for placement of post-retained crowns on broken down teeth.
What are the two diagnosis that tooth needs to receive in Endodontics?
- Pulpal diagnosis
- Periapical diagnosis
what are the 6 pulpal diagnosis that can be given?
- Clinically normal pulp
- Reversible pulpitis
- Irreversible pulpitis
- Pulpal necrosis
- Previously initiated treatment
- Previously treated
What are the characteristics of a normal pulp?
Include;
1. Symptoms
2. Response to sensibility testing
- Symptom free
- Mild response that subsides immediately when stimulus removed
What are the characteristics of reversible pulpitis?
Include;
1. Symptoms
2. Radiographic appearance
3. Causes
4. Treatment
- Short/sharp pain, not spontaneous, stimulated by cold, sweet and sometimes hot
- No significant radiographic changes apically, clear band of dentine between decay and pulp
- Caries into dentine, fractures, restorative procedures, trauma
- Conservative pulp therapy, caries removal
Reversible pulpitis should be considered a provisional diagnosis, when should the status of the pulp be reviewed again?
After 3 months
What are the two forms of irreversible pulpitis?
- Symptomatic
- Asymptomatic
What is the most common type of irreversible pulpitis?
Symptomatic
What are the characteristics of symptomatic irreversible pulpitis?
- sharp pain on thermal stimulus which lingers
- pulp allydonia
- spontaneous pain
- excruciating pain which can be relieved by cold
- referred pain
- accentuated pain by postural changes
What are the characteristics of asymptomatic irreversible pulpitis?
- no clinical symptoms
- responds normally to sensitivity testing
- trauma or deep caries
What is dental allodynia?
‘Recurrent episodes of diffuse, dull and throbbing tooth pain which develops when returning to an indoor room temperature after being exposed to a cold weather for a long period’
What postural change can accentuate IP pain?
Lying down makes pain worse
If a pulp has irreversible pulpitis, will it be TTP?
No, tooth will not be TTP as inflammation has not reached periapical tissues yet
What is pulpal necrosis?
Breakdown of the pulpal tissue allowing bacteria to colonise the root canal system
If irreversible pulpitis is left untreated, what will this progress to?
Liquefaction pulpal necrosis
What three factors can lead to pulpal necrosis?
- direct exposure of pulp
- dentinal tubules
- cracks in enamel or dentine
what is liquefactive necrosis?
‘ a type of necrosis which results in a transformation of the tissue into a liquid viscous mass’
how can trauma to a tooth cause pulpal necrosis?
Traumatic injury causes ischaemic necrosis due to disruption of blood supply
Pulpal necrosis is usually asymptomatic. When can it be symptomatic?
If inflammation has progressed to periapical tissues (there would be TTP or apical palpation)
What response does pulpal necrosis give to sensibility testing?
No response, tooth usually non-vital .
What is meant by ‘previously treated’ pulpal diagnosis?
A clinical diagnostic category indicating the tooth has been endodontically treated and the canals obturated with root canal filling material
What is meant by ‘previously initiated therapy’ pulpal diagnosis?
A clinical diagnostic category indicating that the tooth has been previously treated by partial endodontic therapy (e.g. pulpotomy, pulpectomy)
- canals may have been located, cleaned and shaped but not obturated
Radiographically, would there be signs of root canal filling in a tooth with a pulpal diagnosis of ‘previously initiated treatment’?
No, pulp not obturated
What is meant by periapical pathology?
Microbes and by-products reach the periapical tissues resulting in an inflammatory and immunological response
What are the two main characteristics of periapical pathology?
- Resorption of surrounding bone
- epithelial cells proliferate to from a granuloma or cyst
what are the 5 periapical diagnosis?
- Normal periapical tissues
- Symptomatic periapical periodontitis
- Asymptomatic periapical periodontitis
- Acute periapical abscess
- Chronic periapical abscess
What are the characteristics of a normal periapical tissues?
Include;
1. Response to special testing
2. Radiographic appearance
- Teeth non-sensitive to percussion and palpation testing
- Radiographically the tissues are normal with intact lamina dura and a uniform periodontal ligament space
What are the characteristics of symptomatic periapical periodontitis?
Include;
1. Response to special testing
2. Radiographic appearance
3. Other symptoms
4. Causes
- Sensitive to percussion, may or may not be sensitive to palpation, sensibility testing depends on whether pulp is irreversibly inflamed or necrotic
- Periapical changes present: loss of lamina dura, widening of pdl, periapical radiolucency
- Discomfort on biting or chewing
- Microbial toxins cause inflammation
What can be the cause of transient periodontitis?
- chemicals used in RCT
- occlusal trauma
- RCT over-instrumentation
What are the characteristics of an acute periapical abscess?
Include;
1. Response to special testing
2. Radiographic appearance
3. Other symptoms
4. Causes
- Tooth mobile
- PDL space may be normal, slightly widened, or may demonstrate a distinct radiolucency if an acute flare up of chronic lesion
- Rapid onset, localised pain, pus formation, systemic involvement, swelling
- Progression of bacterial invasion into periapical tissues
What is the emergency treatment for an acute apical abscess?
- Drainage (either by direct incision or through root canal)
- RCT or extraction
If a patient has systemic involvement from an acute apical abscess what treatment would be recommended?
Course of antibiotics
Why does asymptomatic periapical periodontitis occur?
Occurs when bacterial products from a necrotic or pulp-less tooth slowly ingress the periapical tissues
What are the clinical and radio-graphical signs of asymptomatic periapical periodontitis?
Clinical = no response to sensibility tests
Radiographically = radiolucency around apex of tooth
what is a chronic periapical abscess?
An inflammatory reaction to pulpal infection and necrosis characterised by gradual onset, little or no discomfort and intermittent discharge through an associated sinus tract
Where is a chronic periapical abscess sinus tract usually located?
Usually on buccal/labial sulcus. Can be palatal, lingual or extra-oral
Does a chronic periapical abscess respond to percussion, palpation or sensibility testing?
No
What is the radiographic appearance of a chronic periapical abscess?
Radiolucent area on bone
What are clinical signs of dentine hypersensitivity?
Exaggerated sharp, transient pain
what pulpal condition has the same symptoms as dentine hypersensitivity, however involves specific factors such as caries, fractures etc.?
Reversible pulpitis
what is focal sclerosing osteomyelitis (condensing osteitis)?
‘A periapical lesion that involves reactive osteogenesis evoked by chronic inflammation of dental pulp’
what is the radiographic signs of focal sclerosing osteomyelitis (condensing osteitis)?
Increased radio density and opacity around one or more roots
what is the treatment for focal sclerosing osteomyelitis (condensing osteitis)?
RCT
If cracked teeth are left undiagnosed or recognised, what could be the consequence?
- vertical root fracture and extraction of tooth
What are causes of cracked teeth?
- occlusal forces
- abnormal chewing habits
- accidental trauma
- structure fatigue
What are common symptoms of cracked teeth?
- sharp shooting pain on biting hard objects
- sensitivity to thermal changes, sweet or acidic food
- often difficult to localise
What are the 5 types of cracks? (Listed from least damaging to most damaging)
- craze lines
- fractured cusp
- cracked tooth
- split tooth
- vertical root fracture
what instrument can help to diagnose cracked teeth?
Tooth slooth
What are craze lines?
Cracks that effect only enamel, across marginal ridges, buccal and lingual surfaces
How do you diagnose craze lines?
Transillumination
What is a fractured cusp?
Complete or incomplete fracture initiated from a crown
how do you treat fractured cusp?
- remove cusps and restore
OR - RCT if crack effects pulp
what is a cracked tooth?
Incomplete fracture initiated in crown and extending subgingivally (usually mesio-distal)
What is a split tooth?
Complete fracture initiated from the crown and extending subgingivally (usually mesio-distal), more centred occlusally and extends apically
What is the treatment option for split tooth?
Extraction
What is vertical root fracture?
Complete or incomplete fracture initiated from the root at any level usually buccal-lingually
What are the symptoms of a periodontal abscess?
- rapid onset
- spontaneous pain
- TTP
- pus formation
- swelling
- deep periodontal pocket
- normal response to sensibility tests
What is rubber dam?
A means of isolating teeth during restorative and endodontic procedures
What is the purple rubber dam made from?
Nitrile
What is the green rubber dam made from?
Latex
what restorative procedures should rubber dam be used on?
- composite fillings, especially in molar teeth
- bonded restorations (e.g. cores, veneers, crowns etc.)
Rubber dam should be used for ALL endodontic procedures. True or false?
True
What are the 6 main reasons to use rubber dam?
- Protection from aspiration
- Retraction/protection of soft tissues
- Better visibility
- Reduction of delays during treatment
- Patients and dentists more relaxed
- Dentists and nurses are protected against infections which can be transmitted by patients saliva
What is the function of the rubber dam clamp?
It attaches the rubber dam sheet to the tooth and holds it in place
What is the major concern over use of latex rubber dam?
Allergies, this could lead to anaphylaxis and possibly death
What are the symptoms of anaphylaxis?
- swelling
- light headedness, dizziness
- oedema, erythema, itching
- difficulty breathing
what is the treatment for anaphylaxis?
- Assess patient and call ambulance
- Inject 0.5ml (1:1000) epinephrine (adrenaline) IM every 5 minutes if required
- 100% supplemental oxygen (10litres/min)
what are the 4 types of clamp design?
- Winged
- Wingless
- Passive
- Active
How is a winged clamp placed with rubber dam?
Placed onto rubber dam first and then they are placed together into mouth and onto tooth
How is a wingless clamp placed with rubber dam?
Placed on tooth before applying rubber dam
What is a passive clamp?
A clamp that has 4 points of contact to the crown of the tooth, it is not aggressive and suits teeth with intact crowns.
what is an active clamp?
Suitable for broken down/partially erupted/ tooth that has no undercut. It is aggressive and may traumatise gingival tissues.
When should you never use an active clamp on a tooth?
When it has a ceramic crown
What could you use to make sure patient is not in pain due to an active clamp?
Use LA on that tooth, or apply topically.
When may an anterior clamp be used on anterior teeth?
- when there is minimal coronal tooth structure
- For retraction of gingival tissues for placement of composite/GI cervically
what must you tie around a clamp before placing it in oral cavity? And why?
Floss. Because bow of clamp can break on occasion, so they are easily retrievable if floss is attached.
What are wedget cords and when are they used?
Little elastic cords that are useful when placing rubber dam when no clamp is placed, or when you have placed clamp on one side of arch and you want to stabilise rubber dam at other side.
What is used to fill small gaps that arise between tooth and hole made in rubber dam before starting procedures?
Use of rubber dam liquid seal that can be light cured (fluid tight seal)
what is the function of floss ligatures?
Keep rubber dam well below the margins that we require to work with.
where should rubber dam sit on the face and what areas would it cover?
Dam should protect the oropharynx by sitting over patients upper lip but NOT covering the nose
What is the most likely cause/s of clamps breaking?
Effect of sodium hypochlorite or autoclaving
where should the bow of the clamp always be facing when placed in the mouth?
To the back of the mouth (posteriorly)
Describe the split-dam technique in 4 stages?
- Clamps are placed on teeth mesial and distal to a broken down tooth
- 3 holes are made in dam and joined together with scissors
- Dam is stretched over three teeth
- Requires extra protection from salivary contamination (use of cotton wool rolls in sulcus and salivary ejectors)
Does rubber dam stay in place during x-rays to check RCT ?
Yes
What colour is an endodontic film holder?
Green
How many radiographs are required during RCT treatment and what are they assessing?
3 radiographs required
- one to assess working length
- one to assess trial point
- one to assess final obturation
What are the clinical tests to assess periapical status of a tooth?
- percussion
- palpation
- pulp sensibility testing
What are the clinical tests to assess periodontal status of a tooth?
- BPE
- mobility
If a patient complains of intense pain, with recent onset and no relief from analgesics, what would you be considering as a provisional diagnosis before testing?
Either:
- irreversible pulpitis
- acute apical abscess
What is the maximum dose of paracetamol than an individual (around 70kg) can take in 24 hours?
8 x 500mg tablets (4g)
In what situations would the maximum dose of paracetamol for an individual be lower than the normal 4g in 24 hours?
- if they have not eaten
- if they have drank alcohol whilst taking the drug
- if they already have liver issues
how often must a new medical history form be completed according to the GDC?
Every 2 years
What is meant by a “tentative” diagnosis?
This is a provisional diagnosis, which is not certain or fixed.
What are the three reasons for always testing control (healthy) teeth first?
- Patient knows what to expect
- Dentist can observe patients response
- Can determine if a stimulus is capable of evoking a response
What does percussion of a tooth determine?
If there is presence of periapical inflammation
What is a severe percussion response?
- sharp pain, patient withdraws
- Indicates periapical inflammation
What does palpation of a tooth determine?
- if inflammation has extended periapically
What is a ‘positive’ response to palpation of a tooth?
Periapical inflammation
What does pulp sensibility testing involve? What does it stimulate?
Sensory nerve fibres
What is the most accurate determinant of pulp vitality? Vascular supply or nerve Innervation.
Vascular supply
Describe direct dentine stimulation as a special investigation.
- cut a test cavity, if tooth is vital, patient will feel sudden, sharp pain when dentine is cut.
What is selective anaesthesia?
The process by which local anaesthetics are used to narrow down a source of pain
Name 5 special investigations in endodontics.
- Direct dentine stimulation
- Selective anaesthesia
- Transillumination
- Bite test
- Diagnostic gotta percha cone placed in sinus
What special investigations can be used to investigate a cracked or fractured tooth?
Transillumination and bite test
In a bite test, when would the patient feel pain if they have a cracked tooth?
They would feel pain on release of pressure
What technique will allow a dentist to differentiate between diseases of endodontic and periodontal origin?
Gutta percha cone placed in sinus
What are the limitations of radiographic examination for endodontic cases?
- pathological changes in the pulp are not visible
- periapical pathology is not visible in the early stages
- x-rays are 2D, therefore more than one view is often required
To be visible inflammation on a radiograph, where must the pathology have spread to?
To the cortical plates/bone
What CBCT machine is useful for implant planning?
ICAT
What type of CBCT scan is best suited for endodontic imaging?
Limited volume CBCT
When would CBCT be used for endodontic cases?
Not used routinely, for the assessment and treatment of complex cases (e.g. perforations, root resorption)
When should follow-up of RCT take place?
- Clinical and radiographic follow up at least 1 year after treatment
- Further follow up for up to 4 years if signs if healing are slow
What are 4 prognostic factors, favourable for the success of RCT?
- Pre-operative absence of periapical radiolucency
- Root canal filling with no voids
- RCF extending within 2mm of radiographic apex
- Satisfactory coronal seal
What are vital pulp treatments?
“Strategies aimed at maintaining the health of all or part of the pulp”
Clinically, what classification is used for pulpal and periapical diagnosis?
American Association of Endodontists (AAE)
What are the three categories of pulpitis or pulp status according to the AAE?
- a normal pulp which is asymptomatic
- reversible pulpitis
- symptomatic or asymptomatic irreversible pulpitis
Define this vital pulp treatment:
Application of a biomaterial onto a thin dentine barrier in a one-stage carious-tissue removal technique generally to hard dentine.
Indirect pulp capping
When is indirect pulp capping usually indicated?
In the management of deep caries with no pulp exposure
Define this vital pulp treatment:
Removal to soft or firm dentine. Immediate placement of a permanent restoration.
Selective carious-tissue removal in one-stage
Define this vital pulp treatment:
First stage involves selective carious removal to soft dentine, to an extent that facilitates proper placement of a temporary restoration, and second stage removal to firm dentine. Final placement of a permanent restoration.
Stepwise excavation
Define this vital pulp treatment:
Following the preservation of an aseptic working field, application of a biomaterial directly onto the exposed pulp, prior to immediate placement of a permanent restoration.
Direct pulp capping
What is class I direct pulp capping?
Management of pulp exposure due to a traumatic injury/iatrogenic damage to the tooth
What is class II direct pulp capping?
Management of pulp exposure judged clinically to be through a zone of bacterial contamination. This is where there is a deep carious lesion present so we expect there to be pulp exposure upon treatment of such a lesion.
What vital pulp treatment is described:
Removal of a small portion of coronal pulp tissue after exposure, followed by application if a biomaterial directly onto the remaining pulp tissue prior to placement of permanent restoration.
Partial pulpotomy
What vital pulp treatment is described:
Complete removal of the coronal pulp tissue and application if a biomaterial directly onto the pulp tissue at the level of the root canal orifice(s), prior to placement of permanent restoration.
Full pulpotomy
What vital pulp treatment is described:
Total removal of the pulp from the root canal system followed by root canal treatment, prior to a placement of a permanent restoration.
Pulpectomy
When is pulpectomy indicated?
In the management of an irreversibly damaged pulp
What are the functions of the dentine pulp complex?
- Formation and nutrition of the dentin
- Innervation and defence of the tooth
When dentine is damaged, what is its response to insult?
Releases bioactive dentine matrix components, releasing cytokines, chemokines and growth factors which orchestrate recruitment, migration, proliferation and differentiation of pulpal proginetor cells, critical for the formation of newly deposited dentine.
What pulpal cells are critical for formation of newly deposited dentine?
Pulpal progenitor cells
When there is mild stimulus, or a slowly advancing carious lesion, what type of dentinogensis will occur in response?
Reactionary dentinogenesis
what happens during reactionary dentinogenesis?
Upregulation of surviving odontoblast activity and new tubular dentine formed
When there is severe or aggressive stimulus or a rapidly advancing carious lesion, what type of dentinogenesis will take place in response?
Reparative dentinogeneiss
What happens during reparative dentinogenesis?
Death of primary odontoblast and replacement by odontoblast-like cells, low quality atubular mineralised tissue formed
What occurs in non-selective caries removal?
All caries is removed. Still staining of dentine present but this would be hard to touch with probe.
What is the indication for use of a selective caries removal technique?
This technique is used to help prevent pulp exposure
What occurs in selective caries removal?
Any carious lesion which is softer towards the pulp is left in order to seal it off with a restoration and arrest the decay.
What are the advantages to selective caries removal?
Conservative and minimally invasive
What is the stepwise technique for caries removal?
- Precede to selective caries removal
- Place temporary dressing on tooth in order for reactionary or reparative dentinogenesis to occur
- A month later, remove temporary dressing and any remaining carious lesion to restore the tooth definitively once we are sure there is formation of a dentinal bridge that would protect the pulp from any exposure.
clinically, what shade/colour of caries indicates an actively progressing lesion?
Light yellow
clinically, what shade/colour of caries indicates an slowly progressing lesion?
Light brown
clinically, what shade/colour of caries indicates an arrested lesion?
Dark brown
what are three commonly utilised biocompatible materials for pulp capping?
- calcium hydroxide
- Mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA)
- bio-dentine (calcium silicate)
what is the main advantage of using bio dentine for management of exposed pulp?
It has a fast setting time of 12 minutes. (6 minutes handling, 6 minutes setting)
What would be the management for a tooth with irreversible pulptitis, with normal apical tissues?
Partial or full pulpotomy
What are the 4 main advantages to using pulpotomy?
- To preserve pulp vitality and its functions while retaining more structural integrity of the tooth
- To simplify treatment protocol and avoid procedural errors associated with RCT
- Minimally invasive endodontic procedure, so usually less painful
- Potential for more efficient procedures reducing cost and number of appointments for patient
In a full pulpotomy technique, why would we not advocate the use of intrapulpal infiltration?
Because the action of the anaesthetic with the vasoconstrictor could be damaging to the pulp and lead to necrosis
why is there not a need to dry the pulp chamber too much, especially when using bio-dentine?
Because bio-dentine is a thixotropic material that follows moisture
How do you assess the success of vital pulp treatment?
By pulp sensibility testing (clinical assessment) and radiographic assessment (PA)
what would be the two main indicators that VPT was successful?
- absence of clinical signs and symptoms
- absence of emerging radiolucency associated with the treated tooth
What are hydraulic calcium silicate-based cements?
MTA lookalike materials, they are cements or root canal sealers that have been made based on a composition of calcium and silicate
What are the three most commonly used hydraulic calcium silicate based cement?
- Pro root
- Bio dentine
- Bio dentine XP