Gianluca Plotino, D.D.S., Ph.D., M.S. Nicola M M. Grande, D.D.S, Ph.D. Gianluca Gambarini, M.D., D.D.S. Mechanical instrumentation is still a critical step in the control of endodontic microbial infection for successful endodontics. The lecture will start by analyzing some of the basic concepts of root canal instrumentation, which have been established in the past, but still are discussed access cavity preparation, straight-line access, glide path and preflaring, crown-down and step-back techniques, tapers and dimensions of apical preparation. The main goal of this lecture is to describe and evaluate the current paradigm shift in all these phases of root canal instrumentation, including procedures like minimally invasive endodontics, mechanical glide path, single-length techniques, reciprocating movements, innovative designs and manufacturing processes, and deep shape apical preparation. The impact of these present advances on the quality of shaping procedures will be assessed clinically and with the aid of modern investigation techniques. Moreover, future technologies for cleaning and shaping the root canal system, including non-instrumentation techniques, will be discussed.

Sahng Gyoon Kim, D.D.S., M.S. The regeneration of the pulp-dentin complex requires high-level disinfection of the root canal system prior to the application of tissue engineering principles. Indeed, previous work showed that the presence of microorganisms in the root canal system altered the patient’s innate regenerative capacity, resulting in ectopic tissue formation or a failure in regeneration. Current disinfection methods rely heavily on conventional antimicrobial irrigants and intracanal medicaments, including antibiotics and calcium hydroxide. However, there is palpable uncertainty about the efficacy of traditional microbial control for pulp regeneration. New disinfection tools, such as antibacterial nanoparticles and photoactivated disinfection, have been developed and investigated to overcome the limitations of traditional methods. This lecture will provide the current knowledge of antimicrobial treatment for pulp regeneration and its limitations as well as new antimicrobial therapies for enhanced disinfection. Additionally, the potential use of new disinfection methods in clinical regenerative endodontic treatment will be discussed for practitioners.

Speakers: Arnaldo Castellucci, D.D.S., M.D., Ghassan Yared, D.D.S., M.Sc. The goal of endodontic therapy is to clean and shape the root canal system and to obliterate all existing communications between the root canal and the attachment apparatus. We know that these communications work as “portals of exit” for toxins in the chronic phase and bacteria in the acute phase.

Speaker: David E.. Jaramillo, D.D.S. Lately, many in vitro studies on root canal irrigation have been focused on various ways to eliminate biofilms. There have been different biofilm models developed for these types of studies, from mono to multi-species biofilms.

Speaker: Lourdes M. Amador, D.D.S., M.S. Irrigation plays an important role in the debridement and disinfection of the root canal system and is an essential part of root canal preparation procedures. The use of a combination of irrigants is particularly effective in the removal of organic and inorganic debris.

Speaker: Roeland J.G. De Moor, D.D.S., Ph.D., M.Sc. The main steps involved in root canal disinfection are chemomechanical procedures and intracanal medication. To optimize bacterial elimination during or following chemomechanical procedures, several strategies, devices and substances have been introduced.

Speaker: Bradford R. Johnson, D.D.S., M.H.P.E. The goal of this presentation is to serve as a brief overview of medical conditions and medications that may require treatment modification to ensure safe surgical treatment. The presentation will focus primarily on cardiovascular disease, selection of local anesthetic, anticoagulant therapy and hemostasis, diabetes, kidney and liver disease, immunosuppression, history of antiresorptive agent drug therapy, prosthetic joint replacement and relevant drug interactions.

SP-13: Speaker: Yangpei Cao, M.S., D.D.S. Literature indicates that conventional protocols of root canal instrumentation and chemomechanical debridement cannot completely eradicate the pathogens, which may cause treatment failures. The lecture will provide a comparative study of disinfection of the root canal system using the conventional protocols and the multisonic approaches, and will provide insight on the use of this novel technology for pulp regeneration therapies. SP-15: Speaker: Louis M. Lin, B.D.S., D.MD, PhD. Recently, regenerative endodontic procedures (REP) have been employed to treat mature teeth with necrotic pulps. The concept of using REP to treat mature teeth with necrotic pulps is based on the restoration of tissue vitality in the canal and resolution of apical periodontitis.

SP-16: Speaker: Bettina R. Basrani, D.D.S., Ph.D. Root canal irrigation plays an important role in the debridement and disinfection of the root canal system. The goal of irrigation is to remove pulp tissue and/or microorganisms from the root canal system. SP-17: Speaker: Ashraf F. Fouad, D.D.S., M.S. Comprehensive analysis of endodontic bacteria would allow the practitioners to identify the virulent organisms present, determine the source of infection and tailor the therapeutic approaches to the specific pathogens. Novel advances in sequencing technologies allow this comprehensive approaches to endodontic microbiology, and allow the determination of how it is affected by treatment and how it may affect or be affected by microbiomes in other sites. SP-9: Speaker: Brett Gilbert, D.D.S. Throughout our endodontic history we have been striving for better techniques and devices to completely cleanse root canal systems. This presentation will examine the evidence basis behind the innovative devices and a realistic approach to implementing new irrigation technology into your practice.

CEX-13: Speaker: P.N. Ramachandran Nair, D.V.M., Ph.D. The complexity of the root canal system and the organization of the microbes into biofilms make it unlikely that an absolutely microbe-free canal system can be achieved by contemporary root canal treatment procedures. Recent research findings presented in this lecture highlight the importance of stringent application of the chemomechanical and adjunct root canal measures in order to disrupt the biofilms and reduce the intraradicular microbial load to the lowest possible level for a favorable long-term prognosis for treatment of biofilm-infested root canals. CEX-14: Speaker: Joseph D. Maggio, D.D.S. Multi-sound technology utilizing a full spectrum of sound waves can prepare canals with minimal to no file usage, thus maintaining preoperative morphology. Recent research studies will be presented to show this is the wave of the future in endodontics.