Rachele Luciano, D.M.D., F.R.C.D.(C) This presentation will discuss treatment options that are within the realm of endodontics but that are not routinely performed by specialists. Most endodontic practices, with few exceptions, limit their treatment options to nonsurgical root canal treatments, retreatments and some root-end resection surgeries. Literature review and case presentations on pulp capping, apexogenesis, apexification, revascularization, invasive cervical root resorption repair, autotransplantation, decompression, decoronation and trauma management will be presented. These cases differ from our usual treatments as endodontists and provide a service for our patients. These non-routine cases also provide personal satisfaction as clinicians and are impressive cases to present to referring doctors.

Carlos Eduardo da Silveira. Bueno, D.D.S., M.Sc., PhD Marcelo Santos. Coelho, D.D.S., M.Sc. The single-file reciprocating systems are considered an important advancement in modern endodontics, owing to a predictable shaping ability and procedure simplification. Nevertheless, some aspects such as cleaning effectiveness, debris extrusion, micro-cracks development, glide path creation, instrument separation, effectiveness, and enhancement of irrigation must be evaluated in order to find relevant scientific evidence in literature. The aim of this lecture is to discuss the aforementioned aspects with respect to large clinical experience associated with current literature evaluation. Presenters will also describe recent techniques for treatment along with emphasizing the necessity of new procedures for irrigation considering the changing paradigm. In addition, they will aim to establish the usage of reciprocating in retreatment, thereby rendering this technique more effective, safer and with less need for solvent than the existing techniques.

Speaker: Christopher Wenckus, D.D.S. If you are assembling your ABE Case History Portfolio, or even thinking of submitting for the ABE Case History examination, you should listen to this presentation. It is suitable for all levels of Board Status, Educationally Qualified, Board Eligible, Prospective Board Candidate and especially for post-graduate students.

Speaker: Mahmoud Torabinejad, D.M.D., M.S.D., Ph.D. Identification of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats are the key elements for determination of current status. In this lecture the presenter will discuss strengths and weaknesses of endodontics, threats against endodontics, and opportunities for endodontics.

Speakers: Kenneth M. Hargreaves, D.D.S., Ph.D.; Anibal Diogenes, D.D.S., M.S., Ph.D. This session will review evidence-based practice guidelines and then give real life clinical situations and use an audience response system to identify the level of evidence supporting the clinical decisions.

SP-35: In the event of endodontic instrument separation, the endodontist has to be prepared to manage this difficult clinical situation. The clinical decision should be based on a thorough knowledge of the success rates for each treatment option and the risks associated with them. SP-36: Speaker: André G. Machado, D.D.S. Removing fractured files below the curvature of root canals can be extremely inaccessible, causing great wear and even deviation while trying to remove it, especially in highly curved roots. In this context, a new proposal was designed, based on the removal of fractured instruments by surgical access without removing the apical third or promoting excessive wear. SP-37: Speaker: Asgeir Sigurdsson, D.D.S., M.S. Separated instruments in root canals have the potential to compromise endodontic treatment as they prevent access to the apex and thereby impede thorough cleaning, shaping and sealing of the root canal system. Removing or bypassing a separated instrument in the apical third, especially curved roots, is almost impossible.

Speaker: Thomas C. von Arx, B.D.S., Ph.D. Apical microsurgery (surgical endodontics) is an important tool of the armamentarium of the endodontist. However, complex root and root-canal anatomy, extension of periapical lesions to adjacent tissue structures, as well as neurovascular and other anatomical structures in the proximity of the surgical area, may all challenge the surgeon.

Harold H. Messer, M.D.Sc., Ph.D. The traditional terminology for endodontic outcomes of success and failure has two shortcomings It implies that the treatment itself is the only determinant of outcome, and it is limited to periapical healing rather than maintaining the tooth as a functional unit. The terminology of healing versus persistent disease, formally adopted by the AAE in 2005, attempts to overcome the first shortcoming, while tooth survival and the concept of “functionality” address the second problem. However, restricting outcomes to only two or three categories oversimplifies the range of possible outcomes from a biological perspective. An implication of the more recent terminology is that our retreatment decision making may need to be modified. Can a “functional” tooth be monitored rather than retreated, as patients often wish? Is a persistent lesion always “disease,” requiring intervention? In this presentation, I will describe a recently developed algorithm to assist in identifying persistent lesions that are most at risk of further deterioration. The algorithm can potentially act as an aid in making the decision of whether and when to intervene.

SP-1: Speaker: Carlos Aznar Portoles, D.D.S., M.Sc. The success rate of endodontic surgical retreatment has shown to be above 90% when modern techniques are used. This presentation will focus on the surgical management of teeth that had previously been unsuccessfully surgically retreated. SP-2: Speaker: Bruce Y. Cha, DMD. In posterior maxilla, the sinus and posterior teeth are often intimately located and their mutual health intricately related. Clinicians should be aware of this interdependence when diagnosing and treating diseases in this region. SP-3: Speaker: Rachele Luciano, DMD. Post-operative pain can, in some cases, persist several months after endodontic therapy despite seemingly adequate treatment. When endodontic pathology has been ruled out, we must start thinking outside the box.

Speaker: Sasidhar Nallapati, B.D.S. Comprehensive dental treatment is often multidisciplinary in nature. This case-based presentation highlights the use of CBCT in multidisciplinary treatment planning in the practice, including the management of complex clinical scenarios, with many long-term follow-ups.