Love Is in the Air… or Is That Just NaOCl? 🧪❤️
By Priscilla L. Carpenter Lockhart, DDS, MS
February has a way of making us a little sentimental. Hearts, roses, sweet treats; and if you’re anything like me, maybe just a faint hint of sodium hypochlorite in the air. (Romantic, I know.)
But jokes aside, this time of year is actually a great reminder of something we don’t always pause to say: we really love endodontics.
A Love Letter to Endo
What is it about this specialty that pulls us in and keeps us here?
Maybe it’s the quiet satisfaction of finding those elusive canals.
Maybe it’s the moment a patient who walked in miserable leaves relieved.
Maybe it’s the precision, the problem-solving, the constant evolution of our field.
Endodontics is equal parts art, science, and patience, and let’s be honest, just enough challenge to keep us humble. We’ve all had those cases that test our skills (and our emotional stability), but that’s part of the love story too. The growth. The grit. The wins that feel really earned.
Sharing the Endo Love
Love for this specialty doesn’t just live in our operatories, it grows when we share it.
- Mentor a student who’s endo-curious.
- Teach a referring doctor something new.
- Encourage a co-resident before boards.
- Share a clinical pearl that makes someone’s day easier.
- Show patients what modern endodontics really looks like.
Passion is contagious. Knowledge multiplies. And our specialty gets stronger every time we lift someone else up.
Mark Your Calendars ❤️📅
MTA March Madness
Be on the lookout for more information as we gear up for some good basketball and friendly competition! There’s a nice prize at the end of this rainbow.
AAE Foundation Freedom Scholarship – Due March 6, 2026
The AAE Foundation Freedom Scholarship supports residents pursuing advanced endodontic education, with three residents selected to receive this prestigious award. If you or someone you know may be eligible, now is the time to apply and spread the word.
ABE Oral Examination – March 6–7, 2026
St. Louis, MO
To everyone preparing: we see the work you’ve put in. Stay focused, you’ve got this!
AAE Annual Meeting – April 15–18, 2026
Salt Lake City, UT
One of the best times of the year to reconnect, recharge, and re-energize your love for endodontics. Start making your plans now!
APICES – August 14–15, 2026
St. Louis, MO
It may feel far away, but it will be here before we know it. Stay tuned for more details on this can’t-miss event.
As we move through February, I hope you take a moment to reflect on what first made you fall for this specialty, and maybe find a small way to share that enthusiasm with someone else.
Because whether it’s love in the air… or just NaOCl… one thing is certain:
Endodontics still has our hearts.
With Love (and properly irrigated canals),
Priscilla Carpenter Lockhart, DDS, MS, is Chair, Resident and New Practitioners Committee and Diplomate, American Board of Endodontics.