Endodontic case study

Established by the Harley Street Centre for Endodontics, the Award celebrates the achievements of young dentists like Rikhil whose case study reflected careful diagnosis and evidence-based treatment planning, with a successful outcome.

Rikhil was a final year dental student when he carried out the treatment which formed the case report. The 29-year old patient was not in pain but had brought to the hospital an inlay which had fallen off a previously root-treated tooth. Rikhil identified rarefying osteitis in the apical region. He commented: ”A diagnostic dilemma was faced as to whether this was a chronic apical periodontitis or simply a healing lesion.”

The radiograph identified a lateral canal which hadn’t been fully obturated and he diagnosed apical periodontitis associated with this canal. The patient was asked to come back for a retreatment. This was carried out successfully and a gold crown placed on the tooth.

In his report, Rikhil said: “The presence of lateral canals in a large number of root canal systems, and the difficulties encountered in their management, could explain why many root canals can fail unexpectedly. With careful material selection and meticulous operator technique these canals can be managed effectively without the need to resort to more invasive procedures.”