Announcement of the death of Professor Tom Pitt Ford
It is with great sadness that the British Endodontic Society can relay to its members that Professor Tom Pitt-Ford died peacefully at home in the early hours of Sunday 17th August.
Tom was one of the most respected endodontic academics not just in the UK but worldwide. He contributed considerably to the field of Endodontology both in the terms of research and as a clinical teacher to many dental graduates; he established the much respected postgraduate endodontic training program at Guys. Many others, from all aspects of dentistry, have been influenced from his excellent textbooks on Endodontology over the years. Additionally he was a member of and served for many years on the BES Committee and was President on two occasions, the latter one taking the BES through its 40th anniversary. Tom was ESE Editor for a number of years and served on the ESE Council. He was also Editor of the IEJ for a considerable period.
The society would like to pass its condolences to his wife Heather on this sad occasion.
A Book of Condolences has been opened on the website forum for members to pay their respects.
BES Members should click members only site on the website and then enter the forum to gain access to the book. It is hoped to make the book public once it has been closed
Non members can also contribute to the book by contacting the administration secretary via the following link:
http://www.britishendodonticsociety.org.uk/contact/
23 August 2008
BES Prize Winners 2008
The latest prize winners are now posted on the website
8 August 2008
Teachers of Endodontology Meeting, Manchester on 3-4 July 2008
A Teachers of Endodontology Meeting has been organised in Manchester on 3-4 July 2008
Further details can be obtained from Alison Qualtrough at the following e mail address:
alison.qualtrough@manchester.ac.uk
The minutes for the last meeting are detailed below:
Teachers of Endodontology Group Meeting
20th July 2006
Venue;
Chancellors Residence. University of Manchester
This, the third dedicated meeting of the Teachers of Endodontology Group was held at the Chancellors Residence at the University of Manchester. The meeting was funded by the British Endodontic Society and sponsored by Dentsply and Sybron Endo. Three delegates were invited to attend from each dental school; all schools were represented apart from Glasgow due to this being their holiday time. In accordance with a previously successful tradition, the meeting commenced with dinner on the preceding night; an ideal environment in which delegates were able to network and enjoy each other's company.
The aim of the meeting itself was to provide a forum for discussion of a selected range of topics of relevance to undergraduate teaching in endodontics and to agree, if possible, a common strategy for teaching in UK dental schools. The day was divided into four sessions, each having its own theme and being introduced by an invited leader, all of whom are internationally recognised as being experts in their own field of interest.
The programme was as follows:
1. Maintenance of pulp vitality (The principles and the practice)
Maintenance of pulp vitality (So what should we be teaching?)
(Dr John Whitworth)
2. MTA (The principles and the practice)
MTA (So what should we be teaching?)
(Professor Tom Pitt Ford)
3. Rotary instrumentation (The principles and the practice)
Rotary instrumentation (So what should we be teaching?)
(Professor Paul Dummer)
4. Magnification (The principles and the practice)
Magnification (So what should we be teaching?)
(Dr John Rhodes)
The following gives a resume of the content of each session.
Session 1.
Maintenance of pulp vitality.
Defense mechanisms within the dentine/pulp complex are well-recognised.
Regrettably, our traditional approaches to caries management have not always been designed to harness defensive reaction patterns, and pulp breakdown continues to rise in our heavily restored, urban populations. Evidence was presented on the over-cutting which so often accompanies caries excavation with burs, even when this is guided by indicator dies. Information was then reviewed on alternative, perhaps more accurate methods of altered tissue removal, such as hand excavation and chemomechanical (CariSolv) excavation. Approaches such as the Atraumatic Restorative Technique (ART) and stepwise excavation were explored as methods of avoiding pulp exposure and promoting reactionary defense. Questions remain whether deep, altered dentine should be actively disinfected after caries excavation, and evidence was reviewed on methods such as Ozone fumigation and photo-activated disinfection.
Despite strong evidence that minimum dentine thickness is a key determinant of pulp survival, a body of work was presented on the reparative capacity of broadly exposed young pulps covered with mineral trioxide aggregate.
In conclusion, the evidence to date would suggest that pulp exposure is probably best avoided during caries excavation in asymptomatic permanent teeth, with preoperative assessment of pulp condition, partial caries excavation and attention to coronal restorations which will seal in the long-term.
.
Discussion led to consensus on the following points:
1. Many UK dental students now have limited experience in the management of deep caries.
2. Diagnostic tests are not reliable or conclusive and interpretation may be difficult.
3. Pulp exposure is best avoided during caries excavation in asymptomatic permanent teeth, with partial caries excavation and attention to coronal restorations which will seal in the long-term.
4. Pulp capping and pulpotomy techniques were considered less reliable on the basis of contemporary evidence, but could be offered to patients who were unable or unwilling to submit to root canal treatment
Session 2.
Mineral trioxide aggregate
Is there any evidence for its efficiency? A PubMed review indicated that there are 220 papers related to MTA. Of these, 36 refer to pulp capping, 22 to pulpotomy, 74 to root end filling and 29 to perforation repair.
A questionnaire about the use of MTA in undergraduate teaching was circulated to all dental schools. It was found that most undergraduates have the opportunity to use this material in adult teeth but it was not used in the paedodontic department by some schools. However, a review of the literature indicates that there is now evidence for use of this material in primary teeth, for pulp capping, pulpotomy and in teeth with immature roots.
The survey showed that currently, in most schools, undergraduates do not have the opportunity to use MTA in the pre-clinical situation, but are able to observe its use for pulp capping, pulpotomy, root end filling, pulp repair and for apexogenesis.
The present situation in the schools is that calcium hydroxide is the favoured material for pulp capping, for pulpotomy and for apexification. MTA and zinc oxide eugenol are both used as root end filling materials.
Session 3.
Rotary instrumentation
All schools now advocate the use of rotary instrumentation, although this is introduced to different extents between schools. The common consensus is that following the establishment of basic principles, hand cleaning and shaping techniques should be introduced prior to the use of rotary instruments. The Dentsply extended grant programme was unanimously acknowledged as being of significant benefit.
Session 4
Magnification
There is evidence that the use of magnification (in the form of loupes or microscope) is of particular advantage in diagnosis and for most endodontic procedures, enhances posture, reduces iatrogenic errors and affords the opportunity for recording via photography and video capture.
The discussion following each presentation was lively, interactive and reflective. As is always the case, consensus views could not always been agreed, but good ideas were shared and delegates were able to take home with them those principles of good practice which have been adopted in other schools.
The feedback was exceptionally positive, and it was agreed that similar meetings should be held on a regular basis, to which end the next meeting will take place, again in Manchester, in July 2008.
2 June 2008
New Forum Section
This members only section is now open for members to use
29 April 2008
New jobs section
BES Members can now place adverts for posts within their dental practices free of charge.
Click on members section to place the advert.
Job vacancies can be viewed in the profession section
19 April 2008
Single Use Instrumentation
One of the most widely reported and discussed issues of 2007 was the statement by the office of the Chief Dental Officer to regard endodontic files and reamers as single use instruments.
15 February 2008
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GDC consultation on Postgraduate Qualifications
The General Dental Council is currently carrying out a consultation within the profession on the future registration of postgraduate qualifications.
15 February 2008
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