Endodontics and Its Indications

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Questions and Answers

What does the term 'endodontics' derive from?

Greek words meaning outside and tooth

Latin words meaning root and tooth

Greek words meaning in or within and tooth (correct)

Latin words meaning inside and gums

Which of the following is a reason for endodontic therapy?

To perform teeth whitening procedures

To enhance tooth sensitivity

To save pulp and periapically involved teeth (correct)

To replace missing teeth

Which condition is NOT typically indicated for endodontic therapy?

Healthy pulp in need of restoration

Necrosis of the pulp

Irreversible pulpitis

Healthy teeth with no structural damage (correct)

What is a typical indication for performing intentional endodontic treatment?

To build the missing coronal part of the tooth Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following describes apical pathology?

Acute and chronic apical lesions Signup and view all the answers

What type of teeth can be considered candidates for endodontic treatment?

Any tooth from central incisor to third molar Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is an example of pulp pathology?

Internal resorption Signup and view all the answers

Which treatment can be performed intentionally on a tooth with healthy pulp?

Post and core construction for restoration Signup and view all the answers

What is one of the absolute contraindications for endodontic treatment?

Non-restorable teeth Signup and view all the answers

Which tooth characteristic is a critical consideration before recommending root canal treatment?

The strategic importance of the tooth Signup and view all the answers

What is an example of a non-surgical treatment option in endodontics?

Root canal therapy with obturation Signup and view all the answers

Which procedure is included in the scope of endodontics?

Vital pulp therapy Signup and view all the answers

What is a potential reason for teeth with vertical root fractures to be contraindicated for endodontic therapy?

They have severe mobility Signup and view all the answers

What does the diagnostic phase of endodontic treatment focus on?

Determining the disease condition Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements about pulp capping is true?

It aims to preserve the vitality of the pulp. Signup and view all the answers

In endodontics, what does selective surgical removal of periapical pathosis involve?

Apical curettage Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Scope of Endodontics

Endodontics is the branch of dentistry concerned with the human dental pulp and periapical tissues.
Endodontics encompasses the basic clinical sciences including biology of the normal pulp, the etiology, diagnosis, prevention and treatment of diseases and injuries of the pulp as well as associated periapical conditions.
The term endodontics comes from the Greek words “en” meaning in or within, and “odous” meaning tooth; it involves working within the tooth.

Indications for Endodontic Therapy

Endodontic therapy gives the dentist and the patient the opportunity to save pulp and periapically involved teeth.
Any tooth from the central incisor to the third molar can be considered for treatment.
Modern dentistry sees endodontics as an integral part of restorative and prosthetic treatment.
Severely broken-down teeth and potential and actual abutment teeth are potential candidates for endodontic treatment.

Endodontic therapy is generally indicated in:

Teeth suffering pulp or apical pathology:
- Pulp Pathology: Irreversible pulpitis, and necrosis of the pulp.
- Pulp Calcification, internal resorption and external resorption.
- Apical pathology: Acute and chronic apical lesions.
- Asymptomatic and symptomatic apical periodontitis.

Intentional endodontic treatment can be performed in teeth with healthy pulp in cases of:

The need for post and core construction to rebuild the missing coronal part of the tooth.
Overerupted or mesially drifted teeth when crown reduction may cause pulp exposure.
Teeth retained in the mouth to retain overdentures.
Esthetic requirements.
Crown fracture with pulp exposures and traumatic pulp exposure during dental procedures and traumatic injuries.

Contraindications for Endodontic Therapy

Absolute contraindications for endodontic treatment include:
- Non-strategic teeth, those having no opponent, and would not serve one day as an abutment for prosthesis.
- Non-restorable teeth which can't properly function after endodontic treatment.
- Teeth with extensive internal or external root resorptions.
- Teeth having insufficient periodontal support with severe mobility.
- Single root teeth with vertical root fracture passing through the root canal.

The Scope of Endodontics

The scope of endodontic treatment options and clinically related topics includes:
- Differential diagnosis and treatment of oral pain of pulpal and/or periapical origin, or referred pain.
- Vital pulp therapy (pulp capping, pulpotomy, treatment of immature teeth: apexogenesis and apexification).
- Non-surgical treatment of root canal systems with or without periapical pathosis of pulpal origin, including obturation of these systems.
- Selective surgical removal of periapical pathosis resulting from extension of pulpal pathosis including tooth structures: apical curettage, root-end resection, hemisection, bicuspidization, root resection, and root end filling.
- Intentional replantation and replantation of avulsed teeth and management of other traumatic tooth injuries.
- Interrelationship between pulpal and periodontal disease.
- Endodontic endoesseous implants.
- Bleaching of discolored dentin and enamel.
- Retreatment of previously treated root canal systems, both non-surgical and surgical.

Phases of Endodontic Treatment

Diagnostic phase: Aims to determine the disease condition and set a treatment plan.

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Description

This quiz covers the scope and significance of endodontics in dentistry, focusing on the diagnosis and treatment of dental pulp diseases. It also highlights the indications for endodontic therapy and the types of teeth that can be treated. Test your knowledge on this essential aspect of dental care!