Gain enhanced skills to meet increased demand for endodontic care

Find out more about the techniques that can be used to diagnose and manage endodontic disease.

Module 3 of the MSc in Restorative Dental Science builds on knowledge relating to the diagnosis and management of periodontal and endodontic pathology. These diseases can provide many diagnostic and management challenges within primary care, particularly when they occur concurrently.

The previous post covered Module 3 and periodontal disease, in this post we highlight how Module 3 also provides a deeper understanding of the techniques, both necessary and available, for the diagnosis and management of endodontic disease. It also looks at appropriate approaches to interpret results and devise strategies to enhance the delivery of endodontic care.   

Why enhance your endodontic care skills?

This MSc programme aims to provide high quality postgraduate education in restorative dental science, providing busy primary care dental practitioners the opportunity to study in a flexible manner and enhance the quality and level of dentistry they provide. This opportunity within the discipline of endodontics is of particular relevance now as we emerge from the Covid pandemic with the demand for endodontic care never being greater, regardless of which area of dentistry we work in.¹ 

General dental practitioners can often perceive endodontic treatments as complex, and specialist referrals are commonplace.² Primary care settings however are increasingly becoming the focus for the greater part of dental care provision, providing the best patient journey possible. This is becoming more achievable with an increasing number of primary care dentists enhancing their skills. The skills and knowledge gained in this MSc in Restorative Dental Science can open up access to this developing space for dentists with enhanced skills sitting between generalist and specialist dentistry.  

Endodontic guidelines

Endodontics is a key discipline within dentistry and, as expected, there are a number of guidelines on the standard of care in this area including the Guide to Clinical Endodontics from the American Association of Endodontists.³ The European Society of Endodontology have also formulated treatment guidelines intended to represent current good practice.4 More recently, the British Endodontic Society published a guide to Good Endodontic Practice.¹ This guidance includes principles around decision making, providing a framework for the different stages of treatment including bio-mechanical management of the root canal system and restoration of the endodontically treated tooth. 

Module 3 of the MSc in Restorative Dental Science also reviews the techniques available for the management of endodontic pathology providing  the knowledge to increase competence in devising appropriate strategies for the delivery of care and to promote a more confident provision of endodontic treatments, as part of comprehensive care. 

Study 100% online and choose from three start dates a year with Plymouth Online's MSc Restorative Dental Science:

References 

1. A Guide to Good Endodontic Practice, September 2022, published by the British Endodontic Society 
2. Bulmer J. et al.,(2022), Endodontic knowledge, attitudes and referral patterns in Australian general dentists. Aust Dent J, 67: S24-S30
3. A Guide to Clinical Endodontics, 6th edition, 2013, published by the American Association of Endodontists
4. A guide to Good Endodontic Practice, September 2022, published by British Endodontic Society (UK) London