Endodontics
- Endo: "within"; Odont: "tooth"; The study of the structures within the tooth
- Approximately 30 million endodontic procedures performed a year; 7.5 million by endodontists
- A majority of dentists don't always use dental dams during endodontic procedures (53%)
- 97% of endodontically treated teeth are still in the mouth after 8 years
- Root canal treatment is performed when the pulp becomes inflamed or infected due to injury, deep caries, trauma, or dental procedures
- During treatment, the infected pulp is removed, and the canals are disinfected and filled
- Fibroblasts and odontoblasts produce collagen in the pulp, of which type I is the most prominent
- Dendritic cells are the most common immunocyte in the pulp
- Odontoblasts possess a unique cell body and cell process, which are responsible for production and secretion of dentin
- Dentin can be primary, secondary, or tertiary in nature
- Primary dentin is the dentin formed during initial tooth development, and possesses a tubular structure
- Secondary dentin structurally resembles primary dentin, and is formed throughout the tooth's life following complete development of the roots
- Tertiary dentin is categorized as reactionary or reparative, and formed in response to trauma or damage
- Reactionary dentin structurally resembles primary and secondary dentin, and is secreted by odontoblasts
- Reparative dentin structurally resembles bone and is atubular, and is secreted by odontoblast-like cells, which resemble osteocytes