Endodontic Foundation Programme

This three month intensive programme in Endodontics delivers the higher educational requirements and expectations of postgraduate dentists wishing to acquire advanced endodontic skills or expand upon existing knowledge and skills. It develops and refines the core competencies essential to the management of difficult and advanced endodontic cases as a predictable treatment modality in practice. The principle objective of the three month programme is to provide postgraduate dental practitioners with the core knowledge and tools essential for the delivery of high quality endodontic treatment. It also promotes a deeper understanding of the various requirements essential to the provision of ethical, predictable and competent endodontic treatment.

Module One

The first month introduces the basic concepts essential to successful endodontic practice with hands-on practice sessions. Students will be introduced to the principles of endodontics at the forefront of knowledge in the specialty. You will learn to:

Evaluate the sterilisation/disinfection procedures for prevention of cross infection in line with evidence-based practice.
Critically assess the different hand / rotary instrumentation techniques in shaping of the root canal system with reference to in-vitro studies and clinical data.
Critically assess the antimicrobial properties and the effects on tooth structure of root canal irrigants and medicaments advocated historically and supported by the current evidence-base.
Understand the rationale for management of complex pulpal and periradicular diseases and problems.
Critically evaluate the different canal obturation techniques including cold lateral condensation and thermo plasticised gutta-percha techniques.
Use a range of study skills required for Masters level study including; literature searching, critical appraisal, academic writing and referencing.

Module Two

No dental programme would be complete without a strong clinically based component that fosters competency and the development of skills essential to the modern practice of endodontics. An integral part of your training will be assessment of pulpal health, treatment planning and microscopically aided opturation of root canals under the guidance of experienced endodontic specialists. The objectives of this months training are to provide students with the biomedical knowledge and fundaments of Endodontics. You will gain a sound academic and clinical understanding of the physiology and pathology of pulp, periradicular and surrounding tissues to enable you to achieve advanced diagnostic skills and predictably perform long term treatment goals. Aims and Objectives are:

To enable students to understand the principles of the most advanced methods of re-root treating teeth.
To enable students to understand the principles of surgical endodontics and apply knowledge which is at the forefront of knowledge.
To enable students to understand the limitations of endodontic treatment and the principles of minimally invasive exodontia.
To enable students to understand the management of complex and unpredictable endodontic conditions.

Module Three

This exciting and stimulating last month will teach you the very latest surgical protocols and skills essential to the management of apical pathology which is unresponsive to an orthograde approach. On completion of the module, students will be able to:

Critically appraise current research literature for surgical endodontics and re-root treating teeth in order to be able to apply knowledge which is at the forefront of endodontic techniques.
Understand the principles of re-root treating teeth and apply this to complex clinical situations.
Demonstrate a critical understanding of the retrograde approach in the use of surgical Endodontics.
Understand the techniques involved in the complex endodontic situation.
Understand the techniques involved in guided tissue regeneration and evaluate their appropriateness to given clinical situations.
Understand the team approach to surgical endodontics and critically evaluate its implementation in specific contexts.

Online Competency Assessment

On returning to general practice students can apply their newly acquired knowledge to the treatment of their own patients. Clinical data and case imaging can be uploaded to the GIFTED web site for review and appraisal by a clinical tutor who will competency assess the case and provide feedback.