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Continuing education and changes in endodontics

John J. Stropko, DDS, is editor in chief of roots magazine. (Photo: Dr. John J. Stropko)

Wed. 28 April 2021

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How fortunate we are, to be members of such an incredible profession. In spite of the pandemic, the opportunities to learn new and better techniques are always available. With our current e-technology, it is possible to attend seminars, solely or as a group, anywhere in the world!

So much is just waiting to help us on our journeys. For those who are relatively new to our profession, I would like to take this opportunity to share some significant changes that have occurred within the past 60 years.

Back in the mid ’50s, it was common for the dentist to stand up while treating patients while using a foot to control the rheostat for the belt-driven, slow-speed (18-20K rpm) handpiece. Then in the early ’60s, a few practices were fortunate to have access to the new Bordan Airotor, an air-turbine, high-speed handpiece that achieved an incredible 250K rpm! Teeth could be prepared in less time, but the same uncomfortable posture of standing up and using the foot-controlled rheostat was still the norm.

Over the next few years, the practice of dentistry was changing, especially the concern about the dentist’s operating posture. Sitting down to treat a patient became more of a standard, and this led to several changes in office design and equipment. In 1967, my first office was equipped utilizing the latest design and technology. But one of the first things we became aware of was the wasted time and energy for the patient to use the cuspidor, so a high-speed evacuator system was installed to eliminate the problem. It was an exciting time!

Most practices grew rapidly, and “busyness” followed along with the realization of a certain dissatisfaction with everyday work life. Some popular continuing education courses were concerned with practice management. Management consultants could spend a few days at your office to enable the dentist(s) and their staff to more efficiently utilize the time spent with patients. “If you always think the way you have always thought, you will always get what you have always got!” Dental technology was advancing more rapidly. To keep pace with all the advancements, C.E. courses became more and more available. And most of the time after taking a course, additional investments had to be made for new materials, instruments or equipment to utilize the new skills or techniques. For example, after one seminar at the Pankey Institute I came home and bought loupes for magnification and a headlamp for improved lighting. C.E. courses were definitely a “game changer,” and going into the office everyday became “fun again”!

It was not long before many states established mandatory minimum C.E. attendance requirements for the doctors. Also, minimum requirements were instituted by the ADA and AGD for acceptance of those C.E. courses. After 24 years of restorative practice I decided to become an endodontist, and in 1987 I became a student once again and received my Certificate of Endodontics from Boston University in June 1989.

As a new specialist, just out of training, I knew there was so much more to learn. One of my biggest concerns about my specialty training was that I did not learn anything different about apical surgery than before I started. Fortunately, there were some good C.E. courses in our profession to learn from, and I decided to start my journey.

One of my first endodontic C.E. courses was “Apical MicroSurgery,” presented by Dr. Clifford Ruddle in Santa Barbara, Calif. As part of the two-day seminar, Dr. Gary Carr presented his work with the surgical operating microscope. The “hands-on” session using the SOM for the first time just blew me away! Within two weeks after the course, I had my own SOM with an assistant’s scope attached, and we have never worked without one since. My wife, Barbara, and I spent the next several years as visiting instructors helping Dr. Carr at the Pacific Endodontic Research Foundation (PERF) in San Diego. Prior to the surgical technique developed at PERF, it was common to leave the sutures in for seven to 10 days, there was a significant amount of swelling, and narcotics and antibiotics were routinely prescribed. With the new procedures, using the SOM, sutures were removed in 24 hours, NSAIDs were prescribed and antibiotics were usually not necessary.

The improved vision and direct lighting the SOM provided was the most significant advancement in dental treatment to date. To take advantage of what could now be done with the SOM, many new instruments were developed. Just a few examples were micro-scalpels, hemostats and ultrasonics. Due to unavoidable splashing while using the air/water syringe, the simple process of rinsing and drying conventional and surgical endodontic preparations led to the creation of the Stropko Irrigator, enabling precision and control for the procedure.

During the 1990s, computer technology gradually replaced hard copy paper records for patients, and scheduling became a more routine process. The influence of computers in the advancement of endodontics was incredible! Many in our profession today don’t remember the “darkroom,” the small, closet-like room in our offices where the developing and fixing of radiograph films was done. One of the most profound changes in dental technology was the advent of digital radiography. Cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) became a huge asset for a better diagnosis, easier treatment and more predictable results. MTA was introduced as a new root-end filling material and to be used for perforation repairs.

At the turn of the century, changes had become the norm. More predictable treatments for invasive cervical resorption (ICR) were established. The minimally invasive technique for maintaining root structure and strength during conventional treatment was adopted. New bioceramic materials and sealers were developed. The GentleWave technique is one of the more recent developments to aid in the conventional cleaning and disinfection of the canal system.

The most current “high-speed” handpieces operate at 400K rpm for precision work. For applications requiring higher torque than a high-speed handpiece can deliver, a “low-speed” handpiece operating up to a max of 40K rpm can be utilized. Today, the laser is starting to supplant the handpiece. The use of laser low-level light therapy (LLLT) can be used postoperatively to decrease normal postoperative sequela and speed up healing. As a result, the future of dentistry is looking more and more pain-free.

Over all these years, I have been privileged to enjoy numerous opportunities to present lectures and seminars, visit hundreds of dental offices and make lasting friendships, both nationally and internationally. It was interesting to talk with different doctors and enjoy occasional “after-hours” casual conversations. When we were together, no matter the subject, it always ended up in dentistry! We are a curious group for sure, and after watching some of the finest operators at work, it was obvious that the common ingredient for excellence was the passion they had for what they did and how it should be done.

On a few occasions, I left an office I just visited and had the feeling that he or she should have retired some time ago. My prayer became that I would know when to quit. It happened about 10 years ago. It was a routine endodontic case. To finish the case to the level I always tried to achieve would have normally taken no more than two hours, but instead it took me more than four hours. I suddenly realized that my hand-eye coordination was not what it used to be, and my time had come to “put the handpiece down.”

More advancements and changes are happening at an ever-increasing rate. There are masters of our profession in every country of the world. It is important to seek them out and to study under them. It is imperative for practitioners to participate in as many C.E. seminars as possible. Some changes that have to be made as the result of learning new techniques may seem complex and be a sizeable investment in both time and money, but the rewards to yourself, your staff and your patients will make it all worthwhile.

So, do not delay, make the changes today!

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