Endodontics in the '90s: old dogma and new tricks ... can we be re-taught?

Endodontics has gone through many changes in the past several years. Electronic apex locators and surgical microscopes have taken a lot of the guess work out of doing root canal. Digital radiograpy has expanded our diagnostic abilities. Ultrasonic intrumentation and the advent of new filing systems have increased the efficacy of canal cleaning. There have also been some major refinements in how we can now obturate canals. Apicoectomies can now be performed with refined ultrasonic root end preparations, and we have increased our ability to better seal root ends with new filling materials. The result is that endodontic procedures can now be performed more expediently and with a more predictable outcome. This article is written from the perspective of a full-time practicing endodontist, and describes the various changes occurring within the specialty of endodontics.