Warm vertical condensation

The warm vertical condensation technique is my obturation technique of choice now because it is a more superior technique than the more commonly used lateral condensation technique. The warm gutta percha fills the root canal system three dimensionally, including the lateral and accessory canals. The inter-canal communications and lateral fins and slits are inaccessible to root canal instrumentation. After chemical debridement, warm gutta percha techniques predictably seal these areas and entomb residual bacteria. However the warm technique is more technique sensitive and the lateral condensation has got better apical control.

I used the lateral condensation technique for years because I was taught to do that during my undergraduate training. Subsequently I learned to master the warm vertical technique at Penn. We are still teaching our dental undergraduate students the lateral condensation and the single cone techniques, simply because the two techniques are easier to carry out but I think the warm vertical condensation is by far the best obturation technique.  

Improving smiles

The before and after photos above belong to a patient with protruding and elongated upper left lateral incisor. A one-visit prophylactic root canal treatment was performed on this lateral incisor prior to crown preparation because the extra reduction on the labial surface would most likely cause an injury to the pulp. The patient was beaming with happiness after the crowns were issued and I, of course, was satisfied with the results.

A happy and satisfied patient never fails to put a smile on my face. I love this quote, "If you are happy, tell someone, if not, tell us" simply because it has a positive meaning. When we solve a patient's dental problem and he/she is happy with the results, it will do us a great favor if the patient shares his/her pleasant experience with a friend or family. However, if a patient is not too happy, it will do us a greater favor by giving us a feedback, so that we can reaccess and improve on our services.

We aim to do our very best to solve our patients' dental problems, with most minimal pain associated with dental procedures. Root canal treatment, for example, sounds painful and scary, but it has a very high success or healing rate, ranging from 85-95%. In most cases, root treated teeth are symptom-free and remain functional in the oral cavity.  However, there is still 5-15% of unresolved problems even after treatment. The tooth may already be in a very compromised state and a predictable outcome may not always be possible. Some complications associated with the procedure, although unlikely, may happen and this may affect the outcome of the treatment. It is important that the patient understands each dental procedure. Hence, communication between doctor and patient is critical.