title: Endodontic working width: current concepts and techniques.
abstract: Root canal morphology is a critically important part of conventional and surgical endodontics (root canal therapy). Many in vitro studies have recorded the scales and average sizes of root canals, but there have been few clinical attempts to determine the working width. In the absence of a study that defines what the original width and optimally prepared horizontal dimensions of canals are, clinicians are making treatment decision without any support of scientific evidence. This article provides definitions and perspectives on the current concepts and techniques to handle working width-the horizontal dimension of the root canal system-and its clinical implications.
authors.affiliation: Robert Schattner Center, Department of Endodontics, School of Dental Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, 240 South 40th Street Philadelphia, PA 19104-6030, USA. ytj@pobox.upenn.edu
authors.forename: Yi-Tai
authors.initials: YT
authors.lastname: Jou
authors.forename: Bekir
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Karabucak
authors.forename: Jeffrey
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Levin
authors.forename: Donald
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D003782:Dental Pulp / Q000473:pathology; D003786:Dental Pulp Cavity / Q000473:pathology*; D004867:Equipment Design; D006801:Humans; D009811:Odontometry; D012388:Root Canal Irrigants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018915:Root Canal Preparation / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D019227:Tooth Apex / Q000473:pathology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D012388:Root Canal Irrigants