Performance Smiles continues to strive to be better at dentistry and offer the best treatment options to patients. The Eastman Dental Institute in London offers an excellent continuing professional development programme that provides evidence based training delivered by specialists. Performance Smiles have attended a series of these courses including the Aesthetics and Periodontics masterclass, Adhesive Dentistry and the Restoring of Endodontically treated teeth.
Most recently, Performance Smiles visited the Eastman Dental Institute to complete the Contemporary Endodontics course for some hands on practice to ensure the root canal treatments we provide are conforming with current best practice and offering the best and latest techniques.
Until fairly recently, root canal systems were obturated (or filled) after being prepared by a series of hand files using step down or step back techniques. Hand file techniques to shape and clean root canals are now considered by many as a fall back where case selection dictates their use or where new rotary systems are not available. A canal with a wide or open apex (end) for instance can still be best shaped with hand instruments. An operator must still be proficient in the use of hand files but the merits of current rotary systems offer many benefits to the dentist and patient alike.
New rotary systems including the XSmart motor and handpiece provide an integrated unit with programmes facilitating the use of ProtaperNEXT and ProtaperGOLD and WaveOneGold file systems. These file systems aim to simplify the coronal (top) and apical (bottom) preparation stages, minimizing the number of files used and the time it takes an operator to create adequate shape. This then offers more time to focus on disinfecting and sealing a canal system, addressing the biological components which ultimately enhance the prognosis and the chance of a successful outcome for the patient.
The course also provided an opportunity to practice the latest canal obturation (root filling) techniques. Thermafil, heated vertical down packing and back fill techniques using heated gutta percha delivery systems offer flexible and consistent results adding a diverse range of options into the operators armamentarium. Our favourite was the Calamus System pictured below right. Calamus Backfill. This allows a single unit with two handpieces. The first handpiece heats instantly to 200 degrees celsius and cools immediately. This is used to heat GP vertically and down pack, filling lateral canals and compacting effectively in the apical third. The second handpiece holds a heated cartridge of GP and disposable applicator tip that is inserted into the canal to the down packed GP. The plasticised GP is delivered into the canal and seals the coronal third.
The importance ofcontinued high level training is not to be underestimated and next on the horizon will be a year long Post Graduate certificate in Operative Dentistry. Updates on bonded crowns, porcelain veneers, ceramic crowns, inlays, onlays, composite veneers, posts, and bridges will be added to this blog page over the coming months.
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Performance Smiles® 
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