Page 16 - The Beauty and Sorrow in Endodontics-Chapter 1

Case 14

Stick to the regular recall schedule and use it as a basis for

future treatments

(Fig 14A) (Fig 14B)
After decalcification treatment, it is If a lateral canal is suspected prior to

evident that a lateral canal exists at the treatment, but not visible post-
inner root curvature. obturation, then extra care must be
taken to regularly follow-up with these
cases in order to decide on subsequent

treatment steps.

Lateral canals often appear at the inner curvature of the root. Nonetheless,
each patient is unique, if after treatment, obturated lateral canal can be seen at the

inner curvature like the teeth in Fig 14A and Fig 14B, then complete recovery can be
expected as that is a sign of proper root canal treatment. However, if the suspected
lateral canal cannot be visualized on the post-operative radiograph, it does not mean a
retreatment is immediately required. If the treatment result is not ideal, extra care must
be taken to regularly follow-up with those cases (at 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, 1

year). If healing is observed, then the treatment was successful, and it is indicative of
proper cleaning and shaping of the canal systems. However, if after 6 months or 1 year
and no improvements have been observed, then one must consider the next step of

treatment – referral to an endodontist for retreatment or apical surgery.

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