Dental Case Files/Endodontics

Endodontics (from the Greek endo "inside"; and odons "tooth") is one of the dental specialties recognized by the American Dental Association, Royal College of Dentists of Canada, and Royal Australasian College of Dental Surgeons, and deals with the tooth pulp and the tissues surrounding the root of a tooth. Endodontists perform a variety of procedures including root canal therapy, endodontic retreatment, surgery, treating cracked teeth, and treating dental trauma. Root canal therapy is one of the most common procedures. If the pulp (containing nerves, arterioles, venules, lymphatic tissue, and fibrous tissue) becomes diseased or injured, endodontic treatment is required to save the tooth.

ENDODONTIC – PERIODONTAL INTERRELATIONSHIP

Anatomic pathways of communication between the pulp and periodontium are :

• Apical foramen.
• Lateral (accessory) canals.
• Dentinal tubules.