PB-6 Current Evidence in VPT Based on AAE Position Statement 2021

CE Hours: 1.0

Description: Vital pulp therapy (VPT) is a collection of techniques that are intended for preserving the vitality ad function of the dental pulp after traumatic injury, deep caries, or insult from restorative procedures. These techniques include indirect or direct pulp capping, partial pulpotomy, or complete pulpotomy. Contemporary application of VPT techniques is not only limited to the preservation of the radicular pulp in immature adult teeth, to enable complete formation of the root apex. These techniques have been recommended as alternatives for root canal therapy, for the treatment of mature adult teeth with completely formed apices. Pulpotomy, for example, has been used as a permanent treatment procedure for teeth that have either reversibly inflamed or  irreversibly inflamed pulps. Since the publication of the European Society of Endodontology position statement on the management of deep caries and the exposed pulp in 2019, the American Association of Endodontists (AAE) has published a new position statement on VPT in 2021. The AAE position statement focused on 5 issues: diagnostic consideration for VPT, caries management, pulp management, placement of biomaterials, and timing for placement of a permanent restorative material. The objective of this presentation is to examine the quality of the evidence currently available for these five aspects of VPT.

Learning Objectives:  

• Describe factors that affect an endodontist's decision for the amount of pulpal tissue removed or retained to create the optimal conditions for pulp tissue repair in VPT.
• Appreciate the quality of evidence currently available for different aspects of VPT, and the major gaps in scientific knowledge associated with VPT in mature adult teeth.
• Identify the problems that deter the clinical acceptance of VPT techniques by endodontists.