Seventh and Eighth Week: Endodontics and General Dentistry

Seventh Week 
The seventh week in Baylor we were transferred to Endodontics. We were able to observe root canal treatments in several patients. As mentioned in a previous post, here in Baylor the students are able to use rotary instruments to work and GuttaCore to obturate.

In the first appointment, X Rays are evaluated and the tooth receives vitality tests, in order to decide if a root canal is necessary. After careful evaluation of the options available for the patient,  a treatment plan is developed. If the best option is a root canal, the cleaning of the canal may start in that same day.

This is the cassette for root canal treatment

After reaching the access point, the student takes the estimated working length with a  #10 file and takes an X Ray to verify. After the canal length is checked, the cleaning of the canal may begin. Here they used a low speed rotary instrument to clean the canal, which allows the cleaning of the root canal to be more dynamic and precise. This shortens the appointment tremendously, which makes it more comfortable for the patient and the clinician. Every root canal is done in a two appointment manner. After thoroughly cleaning the root canal if the patient had an abscess or a periapical lesion the canal is filled with a calcium hydroxide paste, which will help to avoid contamination and help the healing process to be faster. If there is no lesion the canal is left  alone and a cotton ball is placed and the preparation is filled with a temporary material calledTI CORE which is a mix between titanium and composite.

Materials needed for the root canal 

This is what the TI CORE mix looks like it has a very fast setting time
so the students have to be quick

 

In the second appointment the TI CORE is removed and the canal is cleaned once again just to verify there is nothing there and  irrigated with sodium chloride to ensure the canal is ready to obdurate. Before placing the GUTTACORE they place a paste in the apex to avoid any guttapercha going beyond the working length. Then they select the GUTTACORE file number to obdurate with, which is the same number as the last file they used to clean the root canal. After inserting the GUTTACORE they break of the tip and condense the material to ensure the whole area is covered. Which leads to the last step which is to build up the tooth for a crown prep or to seal it with vitreous ionomer.

This is where the GUTTACORE is placed

GUTTACORE instructions

The last day we were able to attend to the graduate Endo program, where they have highly specialized equipment for root canals. Here everything they do is through a microscope, so they are able to be very careful and exact. The image is then transmitted to a screen in front of the patient so they are able to see the procedure, and so that the assistant is able to be prepared with the material the resident is going to need.

Grad Endo Department 

Eighth Week

In our final week we attended General Dentistry, we were able to observe procedures similar to those described in the first week in Baylor. At the end of the eighth week we went to say good bye to all of the doctors we had met and thank everyone for helping us and for being so welcoming.

This truly was a wonderful and enriching experience which we were able to learn and increase our dental knowledge. Baylor has a great dental program, and their installations have the latest  technology in dentistry in order to create a great environment for their students to learn.