Cleaning those root canals - How much do we know?

Abstract

Root canal disinfection is the cornerstone to success of treatment: a line that all of us have read in every possible scientific paper we have read or have written. Yet, millions of dollars are invested, not in disinfection, but in instruments that prepare canals and materials that can fill canals. What is the current evidence base on root canal infections, methods to tackle those infections and how those methods influence the other aspects such as dentine and root filling interfaces with the dentine? What are the current challenges that compromise disinfection? What do we know about microbial communities? This lecture will comprehensively cover our work and those of others on the critical challenges that we face in achieving optimal root canal disinfection and our findings on preferred irrigation protocols for different root fillings.