SP-35 Minimally Invasive Endodontic Microsurgery. What Is This? Are We Really Doing It?

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.