Carla Zogheib

Prof. Carla Zogheib has completed her PhD in 2012 from Saint-Joseph University in collaboration with Bretagne Occidentale University, Brest, France. She is the Head of the Endodontic Department at the Faculty of Dental Medicine, Saint-Joseph University, Beirut, and President of the Lebanese society of Endodontology, where she has been serving as member of the scientific board member since 2009.

She has published many scientific papers and has been member of editorial board of the Journal of Contemporary Dental Practice (JCDP), the International Journal of Oral Health (IJOH) and the Journal of the Lebanese Dental Association (JLDA).

Lecture title: New trends in Root Canal Obturation in the Era of Minimal Invasive Endodontics

Lecture abstract:  Success in endodontic treatment is based on the equally important triad of debridement, disinfection, and obturation. When a step in the endodontic or restorative procedure is inadequate, apical seal is adversely affected. The ultimate goal of endodontic obturation has remained the same for the past 50 years: achieve a fluid-tight seal of the root canal system, from the coronal opening to the apical termination.

An ideal obturation technique should assure complete filling of the canal without overfill and with minimal or no voids. For this purpose, several techniques have been advocated for obturation. Thus, it is important to select a technique that offers consistency and is easy to use. Most of obturation studies show that all materials and techniques result in some degree of microscopic voids. Although a poorly obturated canal and voids are related, radiographic evaluation of obturation does not correlate well with obturation imperfections neither confirm an adequate seal. Fortunately, clinical success rates after endodontic treatment are high despite the varied conditions, materials, and techniques employed. An alternative recent approach is to minimize structural changes during root canal therapy, which may result in a new strategy that is the 'minimally invasive endodontics'.

This presentation will provide an overview of the contemporary approach to root canal obturation. It will outline the full range of obturation materials including those traditionally used and newer, advanced ones that are now available that have active physical and biological properties. Obturation techniques will be reviewed based on experimental research and on evidence-based systematic analysis, considering factors affecting root canal treatment outcome highlighting the conservation of tooth structure to enhance longevity after root canal treatment. Actual success rate in endodontic treatment based on clinical reliable studies will also be discussed.