Page 52 - The Beauty and Sorrow in Endodontics (Chapter 4 - Part 2)
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Conclusion
Natural is best (ie. the best comes from our mother). From the cases shown in this
chapter, hopefully you can understand that it’d be a shame to not give these highly
mobile and diseased teeth another chance at survival. With all the research and
development put into artificial intelligence and precise machinery, how many of us would
be willing to replace our eyes, arms, or legs with artificial ones without trying everything
you can to save them? As long as we follow the standard protocol and perform proper
root canal treatment, the body’s ability to repair itself will often surprise you at the recall
appointments. However, if a case is never followed, you would never know if the
treatment had been successful and miss out on huge learning opportunities. It is regretful
how many teeth have been lost in the last 20-30 years due to the rise of implant
technologies. Implants are great treatment options to replace missing teeth, and it is our
duty as professionals to know how to make good use of it but not misuse it. Nowadays,
the dental team will often look to the endodontist as a “guardian of the diseased tooth” to
decide whether it can be retained with root canal treatment or if they should proceed with
extraction and implant placement.
Dr. Schilder’s Remark:
It’s a regrettable fact of life that we are dealing with a root canal system.
Are you familiar with the symptoms of cracked tooth syndrome? Do you know what
precautions should be taken in treating patients with temporomandibular disorder (TMD)
during root canal treatments? After a crown has been placed, what do we need to look for
at the recall appointments other than its marginal seal and occlusion? Please write down
your thoughts, and continue on to the next chapter to find out…
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