Recommended Speakers

Endodontic emergencies are difficult in diagnosis and treatment. This presentation will include how to determine the etiology of pain and/or swelling, and establish a diagnosis and design a treatment plan, which includes management of the pain and pathosis. Also outlined will be approaches such as pulpotomy, debridement, opening incision for drainage, etc. A rational therapeutic regimen, including analgesics and antibiotics will also be discussed.

Two-hour lecture.

This presentation will be directed toward managing these common challenges, and include treatment of acute emergencies, as well as preventing and resolving flare-ups that occur occasionally after an appointment. Another frequent challenge is anesthetizing the endodontic patient. The inherent problem in attaining profound anesthesia (particularly with pulpitis) and some proposed explanations will also be discussed, along with alternative anesthetic techniques and some approaches to deliver “painless” injections.

Two-hour lecture.

Older dental patients with increasingly complex dental needs are becoming more common. This presentation will discuss the many similarities and differences the elderly have with younger patients with emphasis on some beliefs that likely are incorrect. The pulpal and periapical biology and responses, medical considerations and restorative factors will also be presented. Root canal treatment is often more challenging, and the reasons why and strategies for management will be incorporated in the discussion.

Two-hour lecture.

A single, discolored incisor is a common occurrence. This often is of concern to a patient, particularly in the “age of dental esthetics.” How can this be corrected, what is the etiology and how predictable is the outcome? This presentation will discuss the systematic approaches to understanding internal discoloration and its management, and the diagnosis and location of the stain. The techniques of bleaching and prognostication will also be discussed.

Two-hour lecture.

The presentation will be directed toward managing these common challenges, and include treatment of acute emergencies, as well as preventing and resolving flare-ups that occur occasionally after an appointment. Another frequent challenge is anesthetizing the endodontic patient. The inherent problem in attaining profound anesthesia (particularly with pulpitis), some proposed explanations, and alternative anesthetic techniques and some approaches to deliver “painless” injections will also be discussed.

One half-day lecture.

Antibiotics are commonly utilized (as shown in a recent survey) in different situations in endodontics. In general, antibiotics are misused, overused and abused. They should be prescribed effectively and appropriately based on data from controlled clinical trials.

The suggested uses (without evidence) include:

• Attempting to prevent flare-ups;
• Resolve abscesses;
• Speed healing or prevent infection after surgery;
• Reduce resorption following traumatic injuries;
• Resolve pulpitis;
• Prevent sinusitis with oral-antral communications; and so on.

Antibiotic efficacy in different scenarios based on the literature, and suggestions for which situations antibiotics might be effective in are also discussed.

One half-day lecture.