Endodonti av Lars Polhagen
Microscopes in Endodontics
About six years ago, I had a feeling that it would be somehow difficult to futher develop
Endodontics, i.e. in more dynamic and thorough way. Ofcourse there were interesting lines
of development to follow and work along, but nothing revolutionary or innovating. At that
point i decide to work by means of the microscope in order to take a step forward.To begin
with this was a farly unsophisticated pilot project, but very soon Ii felt that the
approach would mean an enormous potential as to the ways of working. First I used the
microscope only within surgical endodontics, and all of a suddent it was possible for me
to increase the quality and rationality diagnostically as well as therapeutically! It was
easy to realise that the microsurgical endodontics would mean grear possibilities for
changes and develoupment.
Very soon I also got curious wheter the microscope could be of any use
within traditional endodontic treatment, and it turned out to be very much so. And i felt
that this meant an even more radical change as to the possibilities and strategy as well
as ways of working which had not been possible earlier, i.e. to work within the tooth and
parts of the root canal under total control was quite a new experience! What previously
had been done, could now be done better using microsurgical endodontics, and what had
previously not been possible was now made possible. With this endodontics on the whole
have reached a new dynamical stage. Gradually I became aware that develoupment
within this field internationally and above all in the USA has taken the same direction,
and today the microscope is considered globally an established facillity within
endodontics.
Once having started to use the microscope this way, the initiative can be taken also to
use video and digital processing picture techniques reguarding documentation, information,
teaching and communication. The microscope also has become of great importance as to
preventing of occupational injuries, since it renders us the possibillity of working in an
ergonomically more correct and relaxed posture without tiering our eyes by utmost
concentration through the treatment of the patients.
So far, the microscope gives possibilities which by far are supperior to those of the
intraoral video camera when it comes to sharpness of details, brightness, possibilities of
the stereoscope seeing and to perform a clinical treatment. Instead of using the video
camera directly, you connect this to the microscope thus obtaining the possibilities and
advantages offered by the video technique. The microscope also makes photographing with a
traditional camera possible. In summary, it can easily be started that within high-tech
envioronment, the microscope has its natural position within endodontics and even within
dental care on the whole.
There are various types of microscopes available on the market reguarding prestanda and
price. A cheaper microscope, however, cannot be connected to a camera or other
accessories, and its lens system and visual field are not up to an ordenary standard.
My next contribution will appear 1st March. I will then continue to inform on high tech
and probably about apex locatiors
