title: Conventional endodontics and the operating microscope.
abstract: Patients are increasingly wishing to undergo conventional endodontic treatment rather than to risk the loss of a tooth. Endodontic treatment in teeth that have been previously restored with extensive intracoronal or extracoronal restorations are often difficult to treat. The orientation of the root canals to the crown of the tooth may be lost, and this may often be compounded by the deposition of reparative dentin in the pulp chamber. The operating microscope allows better visualization of the working field, ensuring that the anatomy of the tooth is more readily inspected. This greatly enhances the clinician's ability to locate extra root canals and therefore increase the likelihood of a successful outcome. It should not be forgotten that the operating microscope also has a place in other fields of dentistry, especially restorative dentistry, and is an asset to both the specialist and the generalist.
authors.affiliation: University of Glasgow Dental School, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: W P
authors.initials: WP
authors.lastname: Saunders
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Saunders
mesh_terms: D003786:Dental Pulp Cavity / Q000473:pathology; D003793:Dental Restoration, Permanent; D003809:Dentin, Secondary / Q000473:pathology; D003814:Dentistry, Operative / Q000295:instrumentation; D005792:General Practice, Dental / Q000295:instrumentation; D006801:Humans; D008853:Microscopy / Q000295:instrumentation*; D008866:Microsurgery / Q000295:instrumentation*; D010347:Patient Care Planning; D011670:Pulpectomy / Q000295:instrumentation; D012086:Reoperation; D012307:Risk Factors; D012388:Root Canal Irrigants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012389:Root Canal Obturation; D012390:Root Canal Therapy / Q000379:methods; D013039:Specialties, Dental / Q000295:instrumentation; D019228:Tooth Crown / Q000473:pathology; D016388:Tooth Loss / Q000517:prevention & control; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014464:Ultrasonic Therapy / Q000295:instrumentation
chemical_list: D012388:Root Canal Irrigants