SP-35 - Past, Present and Future: A Look at the Evolution of our Specialty and What the Future Holds

Accepted Speaker(s)

• 

  Markus Haapasalo, D.D.S., PhD

  Professor
  UBC

  Disclosures: Brasseler: Grant/Research Support; Dentsply Maillefer: Honorarium; Dentsply Tulsa: Grant/Research Support, Honorarium, Royalties; FKG Dentaire, Switzerland: Honorarium; Henry Schein, Sybron Endo: Honorarium; Sonendo Inc.: Consultant, Material support, Other Financial or Material Support, Stockholder/Ownership Interest (excluding diversified mutual funds); sybronendo: Grant/Research Support; Vista dental: Grant/Research Support

A short introduction to "level of evidence in endodontic research" will be given. The lecture will continue with a description of the building blocks for success in endodontic treatment, and how these have changed (or not!) during the decades. We will then look at the “endodontic triad” as a disease/treatment model and how the three arms are related. An identification of how legacy protocols came out of the then available technology will be discussed with an emphasis on the continued evolution of debridement technology and how it has impacted the other arms of the triad and challenges our ideas around obturation. The use of new sealers that effectively seal in large film thicknesses, the concept of gutta percha points used as a condenser rather than an obturation material, and a review of the need for vertical condensation will also be evaluated along with whether obturation will really be necessary in the future.

Learning Objectives:

• At the conclusion of the session, the participants should be able to describe the inter-relation of the classic endodontic triad arms and how changing one will influences the others.
• At conclusion of the session, the participants should be able to discuss what near-term treatment protocol changes are possible and how they may simplify endodontic treatment.
• At the conclusion of the session, the participants will be able to evaluate whether or not the protocol changes that are possible today are more effective.