NS-13 Chronological vs Biological Aging of Dentin; Considering Their Importance to Fractures in the Root and Crown

CE Hours: 1.25

Description: In response to improvements in preventative oral health and the quality of restorative treatments, there has been an increase in number of senior patients that seek regular dental care. The teeth of seniors are anecdotally considered to be more fragile and undergo fracture more readily, which poses increased risk of failures during root canal therapy and related treatments.  Understanding the aging process and its effects on the structure-property relationships of tooth tissue is critical to the development of patient-specific oral healthcare and its success.  This presentation will present an overview of our current understanding concerning aging of dentin from both a biological and chronological perspective.  Details regarding the biomechanical properties of dentin from teeth of senior patients will be reviewed, including contributions to what is viewed as "accelerated aging". How root canal treatment contributes to the aging process, and the underlying contributions will be discussed.

Learning Objectives:  

• Define the changes in microstructure of dentin with aging that reduces the fracture resistance of senior teeth
• Describe the differences between biological and chronological aging of dentin and its importance to treatment selection
• Define what factors can contribute to accelerated aging of dentin and the potential repercussions to the success of root canal therapy