Access cavity preparation, working length determination
Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics · Dental (BDS)
Study notes
A 22-year-old patient came with severe pain in the upper right front tooth (Central Incisor). The tooth had a large cavity. Diagnosis: Irreversible Pulpitis. Step 1: The dentist used a Round Bur to enter the back of the tooth. Step 2: The 'Roof' of the pulp chamber was removed until the space looked like a triangle. Step 3: A small 15-number K-file was placed into the canal. Step 4: An Electronic Apex Locator showed the length was 21mm. An X-ray confirmed the file was exactly at the root tip. Step 5: The 'Working Length' was set at 20.5mm (subtracting 0.5mm for safety). Outcome: The dentist cleaned the full length of the canal perfectly, and the patient's pain vanished immediately.
Related topics
- Dental caries: diagnosis, caries risk assessment, minimal intervention
- Cavity preparation: principles, Black's classification
- Amalgam restorations: indications, technique
- Composite restorations: anterior and posterior, layering
- Glass ionomer and compomer restorations
- Pulp biology: diagnosis of pulp and periapical diseases