Dental ED - Live dental lectures

Obturation of a tooth is intended to fill the root canals with gutta percha and sealer but often results in a dentist who is filled with angst and despair.  The obturation is the culmination of the endodontic therapy, and as such reflects the preceding stages.  If the access, working length, canal preparation, dressing and coronal seal all went well then it is likely that the obturation too will be uneventful, with good technique.  If not, then results will plummet and stress levels will rise.  Nature also can throw in some hazards such as open apices, lateral canals, fins and tight curvatures. 

 

 

The lecture will cover the underlying obturation aims and principles, and how different obturation equipment, materials and techniques achieve the desired results.  Management of over and under fills will also be discussed.  The reported relationship between quality of fill and periapical health will be covered.  While a good radiographic appearance is important it is the absence of infection which really governs the clinical outcome.  Find out how to achieve both more predictably and so make endodontics a less stressful part of your practice.

 

Dr Martin Gale grew up in Northern England.  He qualified as a dentist at The University of Newcastle, UK with distinctions in anatomy and physiology.  He worked for two years in general dental practice before deciding to move to Asia to study a PhD at The University of Hong Kong.  He also taught in the Department of Conservative Dentistry there and worked part time in general dental practice.  Dr Gale’s PhD investigated restoration microleakage and its relationship to pain, decay and staining.  This bacterial leakage problem can often lead to the need for root canal therapy.  This led Dr Gale to study a masters program in clinical endodontics at The University of Melbourne, Australia.  With a strong theoretical research background and a thorough practical training, Dr Gale began work as a specialist endodontist in Melbourne in 2000.  He is now in specialist endodontic practice in the Melbourne suburb of Ivanhoe.  He is a fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Dental Surgeons, a board member for the Melbourne Seattle Study Club, and a committee member for the Australian Society of Endodontology.  He has lectured in Melbourne and overseas on many topics and has a current research interest in endodontic diagnostic methods.