title: Endodontic 'Solutions'. Part 2: An audit comparing current practice in Belfast with UK and Republic of Ireland Dental Schools.
abstract: Endodontic lubricants, irrigating solutions and medicaments help reduce the microbial load within root canals. Primary and secondary cases involve different microbes. Each'solution'or combinations thereof could play a significant role but no detailed guidelines exist on their use. An audit was undertaken to compare current practice in Belfast Dental School to the others across the UK and Republic of Ireland (ROI). This audit highlighted three main differences between Belfast and other dental schools. Many other institutions utilized other irrigants besides sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl), different intracanal medicaments, including calcium hydroxide, and higher concentrations of NaOCl. Having gathered this information, we ask, 'Is there sufficient evidence to change the endodontic regime currently used at Belfast Dental School?'. Using the findings from the literature review (Part 1), we introduce new evidence-based protocols for primary and secondary cases for use in Belfast Dental School.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In the absence of detailed clinical guidelines on the use of endodontic lubricants, irrigants and medicaments in primary and secondary cases, it is important to be aware of current practice in UK and ROI dental schools where dentists and specialists are trained.
authors.affiliation: Department of Restorative Dentistry, The Royal Hospitals, Belfast Health and Social Care Trust, UK.
authors.forename: Melissa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Good
authors.forename: Ikhlas A
authors.initials: IA
authors.lastname: El Karim
authors.forename: David L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Hussey
mesh_terms: D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002126:Calcium Hydroxide / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002614:Chelating Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002710:Chlorhexidine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019343:Citric Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019230:Dental Audit; D004492:Edetic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use; D055094:Evidence-Based Dentistry; D006801:Humans; D007494:Ireland; D054327:Lubricants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009660:Northern Ireland; D011206:Povidone-Iodine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019239:Practice Patterns, Dentists' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D019233:Retreatment; D012388:Root Canal Irrigants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018915:Root Canal Preparation / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D012390:Root Canal Therapy / Q000379:methods; D012575:Schools, Dental / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012973:Sodium Hypochlorite / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006113:United Kingdom
chemical_list: D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local; D002614:Chelating Agents; D054327:Lubricants; D012388:Root Canal Irrigants; D019343:Citric Acid; D011206:Povidone-Iodine; D004492:Edetic Acid; D012973:Sodium Hypochlorite; C010882:chlorhexidine gluconate; D002126:Calcium Hydroxide; D002710:Chlorhexidine