CE Hours: 1.5

Description: Systemic diseases and the medications used to treat them play an important role in the incidence and prevalence of endodontic disease and in the healing following endodontic treatment. This presentation will examine recent data on chronic systemic medications and outline important considerations for clinicians as they discuss the treatment plan and prognosis with patients and interact with other health providers regarding the optimal care of the patients.

Learning Objectives:  

• Describe the level of evidence in the literature on the association of systemic medications and endodontic diseases and their treatment outcomes.
• Describe systemic medications with potential effects on endodontic case incidence and presentation
• Describe systemic medications that may influence the outcome of endodontic treatment.

CE Hours: 1.0

Description: Studies have shown that the non-specific elimination or significant reduction of bacterial load below a certain threshold is critical for the healing of apical periodontitis. However, an important question remains: do specific bacterial species or phylotypes that persist following endodontic treatment influence the clinical outcome, and can they be regarded as independent risk factors? Moreover, there is a need to more precisely define the bacterial threshold below which favorable periapical healing is likely to occur.

Learning Objectives:  

• Discuss the prognosis of endodontic treatment.
• Examine the impact of preoperative microbial burden and the efficacy of bacterial reduction on the clinical success of endodontic treatment.
• Discuss the differences in the microbial composition of primary versus persistent endodontic infections, and how these variations influence periapical healing and treatment outcomes.

CE Hours: 0.75

Description: Apical periodontitis (AP) in a natural tooth may jeopardize the health of adjacent dental implants, potentially leading to retrograde peri-implantitis (RPI). Both conditions arise from bacterial infections, underscoring the importance of effectively managing AP to prevent implant-related complications. This presentation explores treatment strategies for teeth with AP near implants, emphasizing infection control and RPI prevention through clinical case examples. A key approach involves performing endodontic microsurgery on the affected tooth while simultaneously placing the adjacent implant. This combined technique minimizes surgical interventions, reduces overall treatment time, and lessens patient trauma while effectively preventing RPI. In cases where RPI does develop, timely intervention - whether surgical or non-surgical root canal treatment, with or without implant apical surgery - can restore periapical health in both the natural tooth and the implant.

Learning Objectives:  

• Discuss the shared etiology and pathogenesis of apical periodontitis (AP) and retrograde peri-implantitis (RPI).
• Discuss the strategies to minimize the risk of RPI in implants adjacent to teeth affected by AP.
• Discuss treatment approaches for managing RPI in implants near AP-affected teeth.

CE Hours: 0.75

Description: The presentation will discuss the challenges in diagnosis and treatment planning of Endo-perio lesions. It will then discuss the importance of communication and collaboration between the endodontist and the periodontist in the attempt to save teeth. The role of guided bone regeneration during apical surgery - techniques and indications - will be reviewed as well as the manipulation of soft tissue in the management of resorptive lesions. This lecture will present the conversation and treatment planning of joined surgical procedures to ensure maximum patient benefit.

Learning Objectives:  

• Describe indications for guided bone regeneration during apical surgery.
• Discuss case selection for periodontal intervention before/during/after endodontic treatment
• Analyze periodontal prognosis when combined with endodontic treatment

CE Hours: 1.25

Description: The systemic connection in the daily practice can have a significant impact on the management of root resorption. This presentation will discuss diagnostics, clinical interventions and alternatives for treatment of external resorptive defects based on the best available evidence while focusing on favorable patient centered outcomes.

Learning Objectives:  

• Guide the clinician through a plethora of interventions for external root resorption supported by the best available evidence.
• Recognize the impact of the systemic connection on the management of external resorption.
• Apply recent technologies in treatment planning to provide favorable patient-centered outcomes.

CE Hours: 1.5

Description: Regenerative endodontics has been recognized as a unique protocol in the practitioner's armamentarium to harness the regenerative potential of periapical tissues, facilitating continued root development and regeneration of the dentin-pulp complex, particularly in immature necrotic teeth. Preclinical and clinical research have significantly enhanced our understanding of the key factors contributing to success and failure. In this presentation, we will share the most recent data and protocols for regenerative endodontics, as well as emerging tissue engineering technologies aimed at regenerating lost tissues. Dr. Botero will discuss the clinical rationale and protocols in regenerative endodontics, along with clinical evidence, outcomes, and limitations of these protocols. Dr. Bottino will then explore the current status and clinical potential of tissue engineering in endodontics, including applications in regenerative endodontics and vital pulp therapy, ongoing materials and technologies, preclinical and translational research, as well as barriers and opportunities.

Learning Objectives:  

• Describe the fundamental principles and clinical protocols of regenerative endodontic procedures (REP), with emphasis on the latest evidence and outcomes and identify and analyze the clinical factors that influence the success and limitations of REP, including practical considerations for implementation and follow-up.
• Compare and contrast conventional REP with modern tissue engineering technologies in terms of clinical potential, translational hurdles, and future impact on patient care.
• Compare and contrast conventional REP with modern tissue engineering technologies in terms of clinical potential, translational hurdles, and future impact on patient care. the audience will be also able to recognize the key challenges and opportunities in advancing from current regenerative protocols toward fully functional tissue engineering solutions for endodontic regeneration.

CE Hours: 0.75

Description: Minimally Invasive Endodontic Microsurgery. What is this? Are we really doing it? There is a consensus about what minimally invasive endodontics is. We know it refers to contracted access, small taper preparations (shaping), preservation of the peri-cervical dentin and activation of irrigants in order to properly disinfect the root canal system. But when discussing endodontic microsurgery (EMS), there is no consensus about what is being minimally invasive. Being minimally invasive could be to save a poor prognosis tooth, preserving dentin as much as possible, preserving bone as much as possible, planning a guided EMS or doing everything with a ¨Micro¨ approach (Including the soft tissue). Several clinical cases for each previously mentioned topic will be shown and described step by step with proper follow up periods displaying a positive outcome. For the ¨Micro¨ approach, a comparison between conventional and laparoscopic minimally invasive medical surgery is made in order to show how the same goal can be achieved through two very different surgical accesses, one with a big, long incision and the other with a couple of very small incisions. As endodontists we can also perform EMS trough conventional large flaps or with very small incisions achieving excellent results in less time, less risk of complications and less postoperative pain for our patients. All of these thanks to all the technology we have available at the moment like the operative microscope, micro-surgical instruments, cone beam computed tomography (CBCT), intra-oral scanning, 3D planning software, and computer aided dynamic navigation devices among others.

Learning Objectives:  

• Determine that the combination of several aspects can lead to a minimally invasive endodontic microsurgery.
• Differentiate different types of minimally invasive surgical accesses to properly perform an endodontic microsurgery.
• Conclude what a minimally invasive endodontic microsurgery really is.

CE Hours: 0.75

Description: The primary goal of root canal treatment is to prevent or reverse apical periodontitis by removing necrotic, infected, or irreversibly inflamed tissue, followed by obturation of the root canal system. Mechanical instrumentation and irrigation play a critical role in eliminating pulp tissue, contaminants, debris, and microorganisms from the root canal space. To enhance the effectiveness of irrigation, various adjunctive agitation techniques have been developed to facilitate deeper penetration of irrigating solutions into the complex anatomy of the root canal system. Techniques such as passive ultrasonic irrigation, apical negative pressure systems, sonic activation, multisonic agitation, and laser activation have demonstrated superior outcomes compared to conventional positive-pressure needle irrigation, particularly in terms of smear layer removal, antimicrobial efficacy, and reduction in postoperative pain. However, limited research exists on how these advanced irrigation methods impact long-term clinical outcomes, such as tooth retention, treatment longevity, and healing of apical periodontitis. Additionally, there has been no direct comparison of the clinical benefits among the various advanced irrigation techniques. This presentation will share the results of a retrospective clinical study that directly compares the outcomes of three advanced irrigation systems.

Learning Objectives:  

• Compare the effectiveness of advanced irrigation techniques in improving root canal treatment outcomes.
• Identify the clinical advantages of advanced irrigation methods over conventional needle irrigation in terms of smear layer removal, antimicrobial efficacy, and postoperative outcomes.
• Analyze the current evidence regarding the impact of advanced irrigation techniques on the healing of apical periodontitis and long-term treatment success.

CE Hours: 1.25

Description: In today's climate of skepticism toward traditional expertise, how healthcare professionals communicate is more critical than ever. This course explores the evolving role of the expert in patient care, focusing on how patients perceive and respond to the information we present. With increasing emphasis on "doing your own research," the course addresses strategies to rebuild public trust through clarity, empathy, and collaborative decision-making. Attendees will learn evidence-based techniques to frame clinical recommendations in a way that fosters shared understanding and empowers patients without diminishing the clinician's role. By refining how we present information, clinicians can reestablish credibility and enhance patient outcomes through genuine partnership.

Learning Objectives:  

• Identify key factors contributing to the public's declining trust in experts and the healthcare system.
• Recognize common cognitive biases that affect how both patients and practitioners interpret information.
• Apply practical strategies for simplifying complex clinical data to enhance patient comprehension and support informed, shared decision-making.

CE Hours: 0.75

Description: Regenerative endodontic procedures (REPs) offer a biologically based treatment option with the potential to restore tooth vitality and support root maturation. Clinical success is typically measured by the resolution of symptoms, apical closure, increased canal wall thickness, root elongation, and positive vitality responses. REPs have demonstrated high predictability and long-term tooth survival, particularly critical in younger patients where the goal is to maintain function for decades. Despite logistical challenges, long-term follow-up provides essential insight into the durability of these outcomes and the factors influencing treatment success. In this presentation, we will analyze a series of REP cases with extended follow-up, highlighting clinical trends, outcomes, and complications observed over time.

Learning Objectives:  

• Identify key predictive factors that influence the success of regenerative endodontic procedures.
• Apply step-by-step clinical protocols tailored to specific case scenarios.
• Discuss emerging trends and future directions in REP techniques and materials.