Vital Pulp Therapy

Vital Pulp Therapy

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  • Includes Credits

    CE Hours: 1.5

    Description: Vital pulp therapy (VPT) has been an accepted means of saving immature teeth with exposed pulps. Recent studies utilizing various calcium silicate cements on mature teeth with exposed pulps are demonstrating favorable outcomes that compare with those of nonsurgical root canal therapy. Position statements have been created by the European Society of Endodontology and the American Association of Endodontists which approach this topic from different perspectives. These perspectives will be discussed by individuals from both groups who will give the attendees a comprehensive view of where they agree, where they differ, and on the path forward.

    Learning Objectives:  

    • Explain the significance of VPT as it relates to the preservation of teeth and tooth structure, access to care, and patient-centered outcomes
    • Describe the issues of diagnostic testing and diagnostic terminology as they relate to VPT
    • Describe the role that caries management plays in how endodontists would approach VPT as compared to general dentists

    Craig S. Hirschberg, D.D.S.

    AAE President elect Chair, Department of Endodontics at Rutgers School of Dental Medicine Endodontic Program Rutgers School of Dental Medicine Graduated: 1983 Dental Program New York University Graduated: 1980

    I declare that I have no proprietary, financial, or other personal interest of any nature or kind in any product, service, course, and/or company, or in any firm beneficially associated therewith, that will be discussed or considered during the proposed presentation.

    Lars Bjørndal, Ph.D., Dr, Odont

    Lars Bjørndal (LB) Lars Bjørndal (born 1963). Civil status married 3 children. Graduated in 1988 as a dentist from the University of Copenhagen, Denmark. In 1992: Ph.D. thesis on the topic: Caries progression in enamel and the pulp-dentin organ using thin undemineralized tooth sections. In 2011: Dr. Odont. Thesis entitled: Endodontic treatment: reason, prevention and quality - shaping factors. From 1993-1998: Assistant professor at the Department of Cariology and Endodontics, University of Copenhagen. 1999-2001: Received specific postgraduate endodontic specialist course in collaboration with the universities in Copenhagen, Denmark, Malmö and Gothenburg, Sweden. Certified member of European Society of Endodontology from 2001. From 1998: Associate professor at the University of Copenhagen, Denmark, and Head of Endodontic since 2016. In 2012 he was visiting Scholar at Loma Linda University, US. From 2012-2015: Head of the Special Clinical Unit receiving referrals at University of Copenhagen, Denmark. He has been Secretary in the Scandinavian Endodontic Society (SES) from 1999-2001. Twice hosted the SES biennial congress in Denmark. Past President of the Danish National Endodontic Society and past country representative for the European Society of Endodontology (ESE). He has been giving lectures worldwide in Europe, Asia, North and South America, covering the field of deep caries lesion pathology, treatments and quality-shaping factors concerning endodontic treatments. LB has authored and co-authored numerous international and national articles, including book chapters and reviews. Editor of Textbook of Endodontology, WiIey ,Blackwell 3. edition. One day weekly he is in in private practice devoted endodontic referrals. ORCID: 0000-0002-2183-6400.

    I declare that I have no proprietary, financial, or other personal interest of any nature or kind in any product, service, course, and/or company, or in any firm beneficially associated therewith, that will be discussed or considered during the proposed presentation.

    Ashraf F. Fouad, D.D.S., M.S.

    Dr. Fouad obtained his DDS, Certificate of Endodontics and MS at the University of Iowa. 

    He served on the faculty and in various administrative roles at University of Connecticut, the University of Maryland, and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He is currently Professor and Chair, Department of Endodontics, Director, Advanced Endodontics Program, and Interim Director, Health Information and Business Systems (HIBS) at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

    Dr. Fouad has published over 110 peer-reviewed manuscripts, 25 textbook chapters, and 145 abstracts. He edited and co-authored the textbooks: Endodontic Microbiology (now in its second edition), as well as the fifth and sixth editions of Endodontics: Principles and Practice. He is a Diplomate and Past President of the American Board of Endodontics, and an Associate Editor of the Journal of Endodontics, Dental Traumatology and Frontiers of Dental Medicine – Endodontics. He received the Distinguished Scientist Award from the Pulp Biology and Regeneration Group of the International Association of Dental Research in 2017, and the AAE President’s Award in 2022.

    Speaker Disclosure

    I declare that I have no proprietary, financial, or other personal interest of any nature or kind in any product, service, course, and/or company, or in any firm beneficially associated therewith, that will be discussed or considered during the proposed presentation

    Hal F. Duncan, B.D.S., M.C.D, PhD

    Received his dental degree from the University of Glasgow and his 4-year endodontic specialty training KCL, UK. For ten years, he worked part-time in specialist referral endodontic practice. He completed his PhD in the University of Birmingham on the subject of ‘Epigenetic approaches to the role of Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors (HDACi) in promoting dentine-pulp reparative mechanisms’. As an Academic Professor and Consultant in Endodontics, he has led endodontic teaching, service delivery and research in Dublin-Dental-University-Hospital for the last 15 years. He has published over 100 international peer-reviewed scientific articles, 40 abstracts, 18 book chapters and edited 2 textbooks. He was the primary author of the recent ESE position statement on ‘Management of deep caries and the exposed pulp’ and is the lead of the ongoing ‘ESE S3-level Guidelines for the Treatment of Endodontic Disease’. He is the current Editor-in-Chief of the International Endodontic Journal. Hal has completed three sponsored research fellowships in New York University/Rutgers University investigating the role of epigenetic-modifying agents on tooth development and regeneration as well as receiving multiple research grants as principal investigator. In DDUH, he currently maintains a research lab and is the principal supervisor of clinical and scientifically trained PhD students and postdoctoral researchers in basic/translational pulp biology and endodontics. Currently, he is the Director of Research in the DDUH, a Member of the Executive Board of the ESE, the President Elect of the ESE, the President of the Irish Division of the IADR, the Vice-President of the Pulp Biology and Regeneration Group of the IADR and a Board Member of the Pan European Region of the IADR. He is a past president of the Irish Endodontic Society.

    I declare that I have no proprietary, financial, or other personal interest of any nature or kind in any product, service, course, and/or company, or in any firm beneficially associated therewith, that will be discussed or considered during the proposed presentation.

  • Includes Credits

    CE Hours: 1.0

    Description: This retrospective study evaluated the long-term outcome of direct pulp capping in mature teeth using specific case selection and treatment procedures.

    At the conclusion of this article, the reader will be able to: 

    • Describe the preoperative and intraoperative clinical criteria for selection of carious teeth that can be treated with direct pulp capping using calcium hydroxide.
    • List the factors that mostly influence the pulp capping outcome.  
    • Compare the methodology adopted in the present study to those of previous follow-up studies reporting unpredictable results with calcium hydroxide. 

    Domenico Ricucci, M.D., D.D.S.

    Dr. Domenico Ricucci received his degree in General Medicine from “La Sapienza” University of Rome in 1982, and his DDS from the same University in 1985. Since then on he has maintained private dental practices limited to endodontics. In addition to his private practice, Dr. Ricucci was Professor of Cariology at “Magna Graecia” University of Catanzaro, Italy in 2002 -2003. He served in the Research Committee of the European Society of Endodontology from 1999 to 2005. Dr. Ricucci’s primary research interest relates to pulpal and periapical tissue reactions to caries and treatment procedures, biofilms in endodontic infections, etiology of RTC treatment failure, pulp regeneration/revascularization. Since 1998 he has run his own histology laboratory and has developed considerable skills in hard tissue preparations for light microscopy. Dr. Ricucci has published 113 papers and has lectured both nationally and internationally. He has authored the Textbook and Atlas “Patologia e Clinica Endodontica”,  the textbook and atlas “Endodontology. An integrated biological and clinical view”, also translated into Chinese, Russian, Japanese. He has also authored or co-authored 22 book chapters.

    Isabela N. Rôças, D.D.S, M.Sc., Ph.D.

    Dr. Rôças is Professor at the Postgraduate Program in Dentistry and Head of the Molecular Microbiology Laboratory, Grande Rio University, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil. She is also Chairman and Professor at the Dental Research Group, Iguaçu University, Nova Iguaçu, RJ, Brazil. She received her DDS from State University of Rio de Janeiro, in 1992, and her certificate of endodontic specialist in Gama Filho University in 1996. In 2002, Dr. Rôças received her Master’s Degree in Clinical Bacteriology from State University of Rio de Janeiro. She concluded her PhD in Microbiology and Immunology in 2004 at Federal University of Rio de Janeiro. Dr. Rôças has co-authored the book “Treatment of Endodontic Infections” and contributed several chapters for leading international endodontic textbooks. She has published more than 220 scientific articles. Dr. Rôças has served as a reviewer for many international journals and is currently a member of the Editorial Board of the Frontiers in Dental Medicine journal.

    Flávio Rodrigues Ferreira Alves, D.D.S., M.Sc., Ph.D.

    Dr. Alves is the Coordinator of the Post-Graduate Program in Dentistry at Grande Rio University, Master's and Doctorate levels. He is also Professor of Endodontics at Iguaçu University. He received his DDS, endodontic certificate, and master's degree from Estácio de Sá University, Rio de Janeiro, in 1999, 2002, and 2004, respectively. Dr. Alves concluded his PhD in Microbiology and Immunology in 2008 at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro. Dr. Alves has served as an associate editor of the European Endodontic Journal and Journal of Clinical and Experimental Dentistry, as well as a reviewer of numerous international journals. He has also contributed to more than 130 scientific papers.

    Pedro Cabello, B.S., Ph.D.

    Dr. Cabello is coordinator of the Genetics Laboratory at the University of Grande Rio and advisor in the Graduate Programs in Cellular and Molecular Biology at the Oswaldo Cruz Institute (Fiocruz/Rio de Janeiro) and at the Translational Biomedicine Program at the University of Grande Rio (Rio de Janeiro). He graduated in Biological Sciences at the Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos in 1967 (Lima, Peru); he earned his master's degree in genetics in 1973 and his doctorate in science in 1977, both at the University of São Paulo (São Paulo/Brazil). Dr. Cabello was a Researcher at the Oswaldo Cruz Institute in Rio de Janeiro (1986-2014), where he was Head of the Human Genetics Laboratory. He has extensive experience in Applied Statistics to Biomedical Sciences and Genetics, leading two research groups of the National Council of Science and Technology (CNPq/Brazil), and has published more than 100 papers.

    José F. Siqueira Jr, D.D.S., M.Sc., Ph.D.

    Dr. Siqueira is Professor at the Postgraduate Program in Dentistry, Grande Rio University, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil. He is also Chairman and Professor at the Dental Research Group, Iguaçu University, Nova Iguaçu, RJ, Brazil. He received his DDS from Gama Filho University, Rio de Janeiro in 1989, and his endodontic certificate from Federal University of Rio de Janeiro in 1992. In 1996, he received his Master’s Degree in Microbiology and Immunology from Federal University of Rio de Janeiro. He concluded his PhD in Microbiology and Immunology in 1998 at Federal University of Rio de Janeiro. Dr. Siqueira has co-authored the books “Treatment of Endodontic Infections” and "Endodontology: An Integrated Biological and Clinical View", and other 8 books about Endodontics, Microbiology or Immunology. He has also contributed several chapters for leading international endodontic textbooks as well as more than 420 scientific papers. Dr. Siqueira is the recipient of the 2014 Louis I. Grossman award from the American Association of Endodontists (AAE) and the 2012 Louis I. Grossman award from the French Society of Endodontics (SFE). He served as an Associate Editor for the Journal of Endodontics from 2006 to 2008 and is currently a member of the Scientific Advisory Board of the Journal of Endodontics and the Editorial Board of the Journal of Oral Microbiology, British Dental Journal Open and Frontiers in Dental Medicine. He also serves as a reviewer for several other international journals and is actively lecturing on endodontics world-wide.

  • Includes Credits

    CE: 2.0

    Description: The AAE Position Statement on Vital Pulp Therapy established a new paradigm for the management of cariously exposed vital pulp.  The research presented in the Statement supports changes in the diagnosis and treatment of inflamed pulp.  The AAE should be the leader in dentistry for advancing the adoption of this philosophy of “saving the pulp” as a priority.  In this presentation, the major positions of the Statement will be compared to previous philosophies.  The next stage of acceptance of the philosophy will require not only support from organized dentistry, but, most importantly, from the insurance industry and educational institutions.  Representatives from these critical areas will present pathways for advancement from their perspective.  Incorporation of the Vital Pulp Therapy philosophy into mainstream dental practice will require more than just the dental community.

    At the conclusion of this presentation, participants will be able to:         

    • Explain how the AAE Position Statement differs from traditional philosophies of treatment for cariously exposed pulp.
    • Describe the need for revision of traditional diagnostic terminology for inflamed vital pulp – “reversible vs irreversible”
    • Ackownledge the requirement for adequate reimbursement for Vital Pulp Therapy procedures from insurance companies 

    Ron Lemon, D.M.D

    Dr. Ron Lemon Dr. Lemon is a career educator. He served the majority of his career (1978 – 2007) at the LSU, School of Dentistry in New Orleans. From 2007 to the present he is a full-time educator at the UNLV, School of Dental Medicine in Las Vegas. He has served as Associate Dean for Advanced Education and Director for Predoctoral Endodontics. His educational focus is to expand the clinical scope of Predoctoral education in endodontics and challenge traditional treatment boundaries.

    Speaker Disclosure

    I declare that I have no proprietary, financial, or other personal interest of any nature or kind in any product, service, course, and/or company, or in any firm beneficially associated therewith, that will be discussed or considered during the proposed presentation

    David E. Witherspoon, B.D.S., M.S., M.F.A., F.I.C.D

    David E. Witherspoon Graduated from the University of Queensland with a Bachelor of Dental Sciences. Practiced General Dentistry for 5 years in both in Australia and the United Kingdom. Graduate from Baylor College of Dentistry graduate endodontic program. Currently is in full-time endodontic practice in Plano Texas. • President’s Award American Association of Endodontists (AAE) 2015 • Diplomat of the American Board of Endodontics 2003-Present • Lifetime member of the College of Diplomats American Board of Endodontics • Fellow of the International College of Dentists 2013- present • General Chair for the American Association of Endodontists annual meeting 2015 • Program Chair for the American Association of Endodontists annual meeting 2014 • Program Vice-Chair for the American Association of Endodontists annual meeting 2013 • Workshop Chair for the American Association of Endodontists annual meeting 2007-2011 • American Association of Endodontists annual session planning committee 2001-2003, 2007-2016 • Research and Scientific Affairs Committee American Association of Endodontists 2000-2003 • Edward M. Osetek Educator Award. American Association of Endodontists 1999 • Co-author of the surgery chapter in the 9th and 10th ed. of Pathways of the Pulp • Published over 30 articles in peer-reviewed journals

    Speaker Disclosure 

    In accordance with this policy, I declare I have a past or present proprietary or relevant financial relationship or receive gifts in kind (including soft intangible remuneration), consulting position or affiliation, or other personal interest of any nature or kind in any product, service, course and/or company, or in any firm beneficially associated therewith, as indicated: Dentsply Sirona Endodontics (Individual(s) Involved: Self): Consultant

    William B. Leibow, D.D.S.

    Indiana university dental school 1970-1974 Boston University School of Graduate Dentistry ( Now the Goldman School) Cerrtificate in Endo  And MSD  1974-1976

    Practice in Endodontics in Phoenix 1976- 2010  Started as Director of Endo for ASDOH part time  2003  on as needed basis for pre clinical Endodontics  then became co -director of Endo from 2010 until present and am now Director of Endodontics and Assistant professor.  I am also  review cases in endodontics  for  the Arizona  Board of Dental Examiners . I have a landscape photography business  operating as Leibowfineart.com 

    Speaker Disclosure

    I declare that I have no proprietary, financial, or other personal interest of any nature or kind in any product, service, course, and/or company, or in any firm beneficially associated therewith, that will be discussed or considered during the proposed presentation

    Alfred H. Wiemann, DMD, MS

    I graduated from the University of Kentucky College of Dentistry in 1981.  I spent the next 12 years in the U.S. Navy Dental Corps.  During this time I attended the University of Iowa and received my certificate and M.S. in Endodontics in 1991.  Upon leaving Naval Service, I started a private practice limited to Endodontics in Lexington, KY during which I was a part-time faculty at the University of Kentucky College of Dentistry and served as President of our local Blue Grass Dental Society.  I left private practice in 2013 to become full-time faculty here at the University of Kentucky College of Dentistry where I serve as Division Chief of Endodontics.
    I am a life member of the AAE.

    Speaker Disclosure

    I declare that I have no proprietary, financial, or other personal interest of any nature or kind in any product, service, course, and/or company, or in any firm beneficially associated therewith, that will be discussed or considered during the proposed presentation

    Benjamin Barborka, DDS

    Dr. Benjamin Barborka, assistant professor-in-residence, joined UNLV School of Dental Medicine during fall 2016 and teaches pre-clinical endodontics. His primary focus has been the introduction of a digital endodontic curriculum and developing innovative methods to reach his students.

    Dr. Barborka earned his doctor of dental medicine during 2013 from UNLV School of Dental Medicine and his certificate in endodontics from Texas A&M College of Dentistry during 2016.

    In addition to teaching, Dr. Barborka is also an endodontics private practitioner.

    Speaker Disclosure

    I declare that I have no proprietary, financial, or other personal interest of any nature or kind in any product, service, course, and/or company, or in any firm beneficially associated therewith, that will be discussed or considered during the proposed presentation

    Peter F. Fuentes, DMD

    A graduate of the Rutgers University School of Dental Medicine, Dr. Fuentes practiced clinical dentistry for 15 years. He owned and operated five multi-specialty dental offices in New Jersey. He completed his undergraduate studies at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, where he worked as a course instructor and as a member of the alumni admissions board.

    Dr. Fuentes has been a thought leader in the adaptation of Teledentistry. He has been instrumental in developing programs utilizing Teledentistry for emergency use, outreach, and member engagement.

     His many accomplishments have been recognized in New Jersey Monthly Magazine, Consumer Research Council of America, and Latino American Who’s Who as a top Dentist. He currently chairs LIBERTY Dental Plan’s Clinical Advisory Board which consists of esteemed dental professionals across the country. Additionally, he was honored by Integrity House of New Jersey as the Gala Honoree for his work with addiction recovery in narcotics and the role the dental field plays.

     Dr. Fuentes is an avid football fan and when not at MetLife Stadium cheering on the Giants, he can be found coaching his son’s flag football team or daughter’s softball team.

    Speaker Disclosure 

    In accordance with this policy, I declare I have a past or present proprietary or relevant financial relationship or receive gifts in kind (including soft intangible remuneration), consulting position or affiliation, or other personal interest of any nature or kind in any product, service, course and/or company, or in any firm beneficially associated therewith, as indicated: Dentsply Sirona Endodontics (Individual(s) Involved: Self): Consultant

    Mark A. Schachman, DMD

    Dr. Mark Schachman earned his bachelor’s degree from Rutgers College in New Brunswick, New Jersey and completed a master program in biochemistry at the Graduate School of Rutgers University in 1983. He attended dental school at Rutgers School of Dental Medicine (aka University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey) earning his DMD in 1987.  Following completing a GPR residency at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center he earned a certificate in Endodontics from New York University in 1993.  Dr. Schachman is a diplomate of the American Board of Endodontics and presently the Director of Graduate Endodontics at the University of Kentucky College of Dentistry in Lexington, Kentucky.

    Speaker Disclosure

    I declare that I have no proprietary, financial, or other personal interest of any nature or kind in any product, service, course, and/or company, or in any firm beneficially associated therewith, that will be discussed or considered during the proposed presentation

  • Includes Credits

    CE Hours: 1.0

    Description:  The aim of this systematic review was to evaluate the existing randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on the safety and efficacy of vital pulp therapy (VPT) and to analyze the outcomes of VPT performed with a variety of pulp-capping materials and techniques.

    • Discuss technique, etiology, developmental stages, and preoperative diagnosis do not significantly influence the treatment outcome.
    • Explain Vital pulp therapy is a predictable procedure with a high survival rate and success rate. 
    • Discuss how vital pulp therapy is a predictable procedure with a high survival rate and success rate. 


    Mohammed Sabeti, DDS, MA

    Yuji Huang, DDS, PhD

    Yoo Jung Chung

    Amir Azarpazhooh, D.D.S., M.Sc., Ph.D.

    Dr. Amir Azarpazhooh received his DDS from Iran (2001), his speciality training at the University of Toronto (UofT) in Dental Public Health (2007) and endodontics (2010), followed by his PhD in 2011. He is a UofT full-time tenured Associate Professor, with cross-appointments to the Clinical Epidemiology Program at the Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, Faculty of Medicine, and Toronto Health Economics and Technology Assessment Collaborative, UofT. He is also the Head of both Divisions of Endodontics and Research at the Department of Dentistry, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto.

    Currently, his attributed grants and awards total more than CDN $1.25M and these have enabled him to manage a strong group of graduate students over the years. To date, he has been an editor of a textbook on evidence-based dentistry, has published six book chapters, and more than 150 papers, abstracts and reports and has presented at over 50 national and international scientific meetings. He has been awarded nationally and internationally, by the Cochrane Canada, the Canadian Academy of Endodontics, and the American Association of Endodontists. He is an Associate Editor of the Journal of Endodontics.

    Amir is a practicing endodontist, with part-time private practices in Toronto as well as a hospital practice in Mount Sinai Hospital providing endodontic care to patients when their medical, physical or mental status indicates the need for a hospital environment. Despite his heavy load of teaching, research and clinical practice, out of the office he enjoys life with his wife, travelling, cycling, photography, and gardening.

  • CE Hours:0

    Description: It's only one concept in endodontics: elimination of bacteria and the pulp tissue from the root canal system while preserving maximum tooth structure for restoration and function. The purpose of endodontic therapy is to remove all the inflamed and necrotic tissues in the pulp, as well as the bacterial component, making the pulp and the root canals of the tooth as clean as possible. Making the root canals as clean as possible (one of the predictor factors for endodontic success) increases the predictability of our treatments.

    Scouting canals technique improves the shaping, disinfection, and obturation of the root canal system with cheap tools and a simple approach.

    Learning Objectives: 

    • Describe the aim of this procedure
    • Explain the details of the technique
    • Discuss documented cases and to realize that this is a teachable, repeatable, and reproducible technique

    Thomas Lazaridis

    Lazaridis Thomas email: lazaridisthomas@gmail.com Citizenship: Greek Born in 13-04-1969 EDUCATION Graduation: Faculty of Dental Medicine Sofia Medical University (Bulgaria) -1994(1989-1994) Implantology education: ITI, 2008-20010 EMPLOYMENT 1995-1996 Naval Hospital 1997- now self-employed, general dentist-limited to endodontics Focus on endodontics and restorative dentistry 1998-2008 worked limited in endodontics in many dental clinics 2005 I obtain my first microscope and focused on microdentistry. From 2005 until now all procedures in dentistry were done under the microscope. Lecturing in Ukraine and India(2013-2019) Field of interest : Access cavity, glidepath Management of curved canals Management of broken files Documentation of canal and apical scouting Documentation with the microscope.

    Speaker Disclosure 

    I declare that I have no proprietary, financial, or other personal interest of any nature or kind in any product, service, course, and/or company, or in any firm beneficially associated therewith, that will be discussed or considered during the proposed presentation.

  • Includes Credits

    CE Hours: 1.25

    Description: Vital pulp therapy has the potential to significantly extend the life of a tooth. The outcomes and evidence for vital pulp treatment has changed drastically in the last 10 years. In 2021 the AAE release a new position paper on vital pulp therapy. This presentation will use this as basis to discuss the important aspect of these procedures. The presentation will primarily focus on teeth with carious exposure and symptoms of irreversible pulpitis. A case-based analysis will be used to explore treatment options that incorporate evidence-based treatment protocols in day-to-day clinical practice.

    Learning Objectives: 

    • Describe the concepts for selecting teeth for various treatment options and what outcomes can be expected from these various treatments
    • List the critical steps in carrying out a vital pulp treatment protocol
    • Discuss the prognostic factors for various vital pulpal treatments

    David E. Witherspoon, B.D.S., M.S., M.F.A., F.I.C.D

    David E. Witherspoon Graduated from the University of Queensland with a Bachelor of Dental Sciences. Practiced General Dentistry for 5 years in both in Australia and the United Kingdom. Graduate from Baylor College of Dentistry graduate endodontic program. Currently is in full-time endodontic practice in Plano Texas. • President’s Award American Association of Endodontists (AAE) 2015 • Diplomat of the American Board of Endodontics 2003-Present • Lifetime member of the College of Diplomats American Board of Endodontics • Fellow of the International College of Dentists 2013- present • General Chair for the American Association of Endodontists annual meeting 2015 • Program Chair for the American Association of Endodontists annual meeting 2014 • Program Vice-Chair for the American Association of Endodontists annual meeting 2013 • Workshop Chair for the American Association of Endodontists annual meeting 2007-2011 • American Association of Endodontists annual session planning committee 2001-2003, 2007-2016 • Research and Scientific Affairs Committee American Association of Endodontists 2000-2003 • Edward M. Osetek Educator Award. American Association of Endodontists 1999 • Co-author of the surgery chapter in the 9th and 10th ed. of Pathways of the Pulp • Published over 30 articles in peer-reviewed journals

    Speaker Disclosure 

    In accordance with this policy, I declare I have a past or present proprietary or relevant financial relationship or receive gifts in kind (including soft intangible remuneration), consulting position or affiliation, or other personal interest of any nature or kind in any product, service, course and/or company, or in any firm beneficially associated therewith, as indicated: Dentsply Sirona Endodontics (Individual(s) Involved: Self): Consultant

  • Includes Credits

    CE Hours: 1.25

    Description: Endodontics - "the branch of dentistry concerned with the etiology, PREVENTION, diagnosis and treatment of conditions that affect the tooth pulp..." (Grossman). Are we? Modern dental therapeutics is directed toward minimally invasive procedures. Advancement in biologic sciences and materials has paved the way for a paradigm shift in pulpal therapy. Diagnostic results that traditionally indicated endodontic therapy must now be questioned. Many cariously exposed vital pulps can now be preserved using the principles of Vital Pulp Therapy. Additional, during treatment, diagnostic information can be used to determine the indication for pulp cap, pulpotomy, or pulpectomy. The lecture will emphasize the critical components of the VPT treatment protocol, including preoperative diagnosis, total caries removal, mid-treatment pulpal evaluation after exposure, MTA placement (calcium silicate materials), and restoration. Appropriate research validation will be presented.

    Bring an open mind!

    • Explain the rationale for total caries removal using Caries Indicator verses "Indirect Pulp Cap."
    • Disinfect dentin after caries removal and, if the pulp is exposed, evaluate hemorrhage flow for additional diagnostic information with respect to the stage of pulpal inflammation.
    • Describe the diagnostic indicators for pulp cap, pulpotomy, or pulpectomy/endodontic therapy.

    Ron Lemon, D.M.D

    Dr. Ron Lemon Dr. Lemon is a career educator. He served the majority of his career (1978 – 2007) at the LSU, School of Dentistry in New Orleans. From 2007 to the present he is a full-time educator at the UNLV, School of Dental Medicine in Las Vegas. He has served as Associate Dean for Advanced Education and Director for Predoctoral Endodontics. His educational focus is to expand the clinical scope of Predoctoral education in endodontics and challenge traditional treatment boundaries.

    Speaker Disclosure

    I declare that I have no proprietary, financial, or other personal interest of any nature or kind in any product, service, course, and/or company, or in any firm beneficially associated therewith, that will be discussed or considered during the proposed presentation

    Ron Lemon, D.M.D
    I declare that I have no proprietary, financial, or other personal interest of any nature or kind in any product, service, course, and/or company, or in any firm beneficially associated therewith, that will be discussed or considered during the proposed presentation.


  • Includes Credits

    CE Hours: 2.25

    Description: Vital pulp treatment has the potential to significantly extend the life of a tooth. The outcomes and evidence for vital pulp treatment has been advanced significantly in the last 10 years. The presentation will exam these outcomes and the prognostic factors for various vital pulp treatments, with particular focus on teeth with carious exposure and symptoms of irreversible pulpitis. Additionally, case-based analysis will be used to explore treatment options that incorporate evidence-based treatment protocols in day to day clinical practice.

    • Explain the concepts behind various treatment options, selecting teeth for them, and what outcomes can be expected.
    • Discuss the prognostic factors for various vital pulpal treatments.
    • Describe the clinical implementation of various vital pulp treatment protocols.

    Nessrin Taha, BDS, DClinDent, PhD

    Dr Taha attained her Graduate Diploma, Clinical Doctorate in Endodontics and PhD from the University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia. She is a Member of the Royal College of Ireland and a fellow of the Royal Australian College of Dental Surgeons in both general dentistry and the special field of Endodontics, and a registered endodontist in Jordan and Australia.

    She is former vice dean, director of the dental teaching clinics, director of the postgraduate clinics, and head of department of conservative dentistry at Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan. She is also member and former chair of the scientific committee of the Jordanian Board of Endodontics. 

    Currently she is a professor in endodontics and coordinator of the postgraduate endodontic program at Jordan university of science and technology. Research interests include; calcium silicate-based materials, regenerative endodontics and vital pulp therapy. She lectured internationally on the topic with several published laboratory based and clinical research papers. She serves in the editorial board and reviewers’ panel of more than 10 international indexed journals. 

    Speaker Disclosure 

    I declare that I have no proprietary, financial, or other personal interest of any nature or kind in any product, service, course, and/or company, or in any firm beneficially associated therewith, that will be discussed or considered during the proposed presentation.

    David E. Witherspoon, B.D.S., M.S., M.F.A., F.I.C.D

    David E. Witherspoon Graduated from the University of Queensland with a Bachelor of Dental Sciences. Practiced General Dentistry for 5 years in both in Australia and the United Kingdom. Graduate from Baylor College of Dentistry graduate endodontic program. Currently is in full-time endodontic practice in Plano Texas. • President’s Award American Association of Endodontists (AAE) 2015 • Diplomat of the American Board of Endodontics 2003-Present • Lifetime member of the College of Diplomats American Board of Endodontics • Fellow of the International College of Dentists 2013- present • General Chair for the American Association of Endodontists annual meeting 2015 • Program Chair for the American Association of Endodontists annual meeting 2014 • Program Vice-Chair for the American Association of Endodontists annual meeting 2013 • Workshop Chair for the American Association of Endodontists annual meeting 2007-2011 • American Association of Endodontists annual session planning committee 2001-2003, 2007-2016 • Research and Scientific Affairs Committee American Association of Endodontists 2000-2003 • Edward M. Osetek Educator Award. American Association of Endodontists 1999 • Co-author of the surgery chapter in the 9th and 10th ed. of Pathways of the Pulp • Published over 30 articles in peer-reviewed journals

    Speaker Disclosure 

    In accordance with this policy, I declare I have a past or present proprietary or relevant financial relationship or receive gifts in kind (including soft intangible remuneration), consulting position or affiliation, or other personal interest of any nature or kind in any product, service, course and/or company, or in any firm beneficially associated therewith, as indicated: Dentsply Sirona Endodontics (Individual(s) Involved: Self): Consultant

    Nessrin Taha, BDS,DClinDent,PhD

    I declare that I have no proprietary, financial, or other personal interest of any nature or kind in any product, service, course, and/or company, or in any firm beneficially associated therewith, that will be discussed or considered during the proposed presentation

    David E. Witherspoon, B.D.S., M.S., M.F.A.
    In accordance with this policy, I declare I have a past or present proprietary or relevant financial relationship or receive gifts in kind (including soft intangible remuneration), consulting position or affiliation, or other personal interest of any nature or kind in any product, service, course and/or company, or in any firm beneficially associated therewith, as indicated: Dentsply Sirona Endodontics: Consultant

  • Includes Credits

    CE Hours: 1.0

    Description: The immune system plays a vital and detailed role in various healing processes in the body. This is true for vital pulp therapy procedures as well. The interaction of the immune system with the stem cells is crucial as this interaction can determine the success or failure of a particular procedure. This presentation aims to explain this interaction and it's subsequent consequences.

    • Identify the importance of the immune system in vital pulp therapy procedures.
    • Explain the interaction between the stem cells and the immune system.
    • Discuss the pros and cons of an activated and non-activated immune system.

    Avina K. Paranjpe, B.D.S., M.S., M.S.D., Ph.D.

    Dr. Avina Paranjpe graduated with her BDS (Bachelor of Dental Surgery) degree from the Mumbai University, India in 2000. She was in private practice in Mumbai, India from 2000-2002 after which she obtained her Master’s degree (MS) and a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Oral Biology, Immunology from the University of California, Los Angeles in 2004 and 2007 respectively. Dr. Paranjpe earned her Master of Science in Dentistry (MSD) and Certificate in Endodontics from the University of Washington Graduate Endodontics Program in August 2009 after which she joined the faculty at the University of Washington, School of Dentistry as Assistant Professor. She was recently promoted to Professor with Tenure. She is a Diplomate of the American Board of Endodontics and currently serves as a Director on the American Board of Endodontics. Dr. Paranjpe is involved in several ongoing research projects related to dental materials and regenerative Endodontics. She has numerous publications in the area of pulpal regeneration and revascularization, immunology, compatibility of biomaterials. Dr. Paranjpe is a member of the American Association of Endodontists (AAE), American Dental Education Association (ADEA), American Dental Association (ADA) and the International Association of Dental Research (IADR).

    Avina Paranjpe, BDS, MS, MSD, PhD

    I declare that I have no proprietary, financial, or other personal interest of any nature or kind in any product, service, course, and/or company, or in any firm beneficially associated therewith, that will be discussed or considered during the proposed presentation.


  • Includes Credits

    CE Hours: 1.0

    Description: Vital pulp treatment has the potential to significantly extend the life of a tooth. However, preserving pulp vitality following exposures/caries remains as a real challenge where healing must compete with the infection. The balance between inflammation and regeneration is crucial in determining the overall pulp healing capacity. This is particularly true after applying capping materials directly onto the pulp in its inextensible environment. The presentation will demonstrate pulp anti-inflammatory potential through its capacity to kill cariogenic bacteria. It will exam the use of vital pulp treatment in day to day clinical practice. The presentation will discuss various materials available for use in this procedure. It will also demonstrate how capping materials affect the pulp inflammation and regeneration and the overall outcome of vital pulp therapy.

    • Discuss how pulp fibroblast can kill cariogenic bacteria and provide a local control of inflammation
    • Describe pulp response is modulated by pulp capping materials
    • Explain the concepts for selecting teeth for various treatment options and what outcomes can be expected

    David E. Witherspoon, B.D.S., M.S., M.F.A., F.I.C.D

    David E. Witherspoon Graduated from the University of Queensland with a Bachelor of Dental Sciences. Practiced General Dentistry for 5 years in both in Australia and the United Kingdom. Graduate from Baylor College of Dentistry graduate endodontic program. Currently is in full-time endodontic practice in Plano Texas. • President’s Award American Association of Endodontists (AAE) 2015 • Diplomat of the American Board of Endodontics 2003-Present • Lifetime member of the College of Diplomats American Board of Endodontics • Fellow of the International College of Dentists 2013- present • General Chair for the American Association of Endodontists annual meeting 2015 • Program Chair for the American Association of Endodontists annual meeting 2014 • Program Vice-Chair for the American Association of Endodontists annual meeting 2013 • Workshop Chair for the American Association of Endodontists annual meeting 2007-2011 • American Association of Endodontists annual session planning committee 2001-2003, 2007-2016 • Research and Scientific Affairs Committee American Association of Endodontists 2000-2003 • Edward M. Osetek Educator Award. American Association of Endodontists 1999 • Co-author of the surgery chapter in the 9th and 10th ed. of Pathways of the Pulp • Published over 30 articles in peer-reviewed journals

    Speaker Disclosure 

    In accordance with this policy, I declare I have a past or present proprietary or relevant financial relationship or receive gifts in kind (including soft intangible remuneration), consulting position or affiliation, or other personal interest of any nature or kind in any product, service, course and/or company, or in any firm beneficially associated therewith, as indicated: Dentsply Sirona Endodontics (Individual(s) Involved: Self): Consultant

    David E. Witherspoon, B.D.S., M.S., M.F.A.

    In accordance with this policy, I declare I have a past or present proprietary or relevant financial relationship or receive gifts in kind (including soft intangible remuneration), consulting position or affiliation, or other personal interest of any nature or kind in any product, service, course and/or company, or in any firm beneficially associated therewith, as indicated: Dentsply Sirona Endodontics (financial relationship declared)