Root Canal Academy

Endodontic teaching online with lessons in video, audio, blog, procedure graphics, and other root canal procedure resources.

Using Calcium Hydroxide

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Greetings Clinicians,

Though it appears to be a simple, calcium hydroxide application can be tricky.  In my Learning Lessons Case #4, I provide perspective on some of your common CA(OH)2 questions:

  • What type of calcium hydroxide should I use? Why?
  • How should I best apply calcium hydroxide?
  • What do I say to a patient?
  • What should I avoid?

Click on the image below for a seven-page lesson on using calcium hydroxide.

Learning Lesson Case #4
Learning Lesson Case #4

 

 

 

 

 

This is another sneak peak at a forthcoming series of Learning Lessons books to be available soon through RootCanalAcademy.com. See other lesson samples in this blog.

Happy endo my friends,

Reid
ReidPullen@RootCanalAcademy.com

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Patient Communications: Walking My Talk

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Greetings Clinicians,

In several recent posts on Patient Management and Patient Communications (see tags), I’ve talked about approaches and specific techniques to communicate both common as well as more difficult treatment circumstances. In the two videos below, I demonstrate how to communicate with a patient basic information. These videos include:

  • Talking with the patient before treatment procedure
  • Explaining each step during treatment.

You will see the purposeful and direct communication, which can be modified with additional information based upon your specific patient circumstances.

Be purposeful. Be direct.

Happy Endo my Friends,

Reid

 

 

 

What is Zen Endo?

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Greetings Clinicians,

Zen Endo is an important part of Root Canal Academy’s E3 Endodontics (Efficient, Effective, Excellent).

‘Calm and effective’ is a state I want students and practitioners to maintain–even in the most difficult circumstances and events of endodontic practice. I call this state of being calm and effective Zen Endo.

Zen Endo is good patient management and here are some simple steps explained in the accompanying video:

  1. Be clear
  2. Explain proposed procedures; make sure that procedures, outcomes, and risks are understood
  3. Ask the patient if they have any questions

Understanding how to structure your communications will bring good treatment outcomes. Happy patients pay, return, and refer. In turn, you’ll be happy too!

Wishing you Zen Endo,

Reid

Reid Pullen’s 30 Second Exam

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Clinicians,
Pop quiz: What physical indicators do you use to help efficiently diagnose a patient?

At RootCanalAcademy.com we have seven tests that we conduct in a 30 second exam:
1. Visual
2. Percussion
3. Mobility
4. Probing
5. Palpation
6. Bite stick
7. Cold

Explaining each test while in progress, and the patient’s own corresponding sensation, will help them understand the need for treatment and is a good precursor to your diagnostic explanation. Conducting your test efficiently and authoritatively instills confidence.

Best,
Reid

Difficult Patient Circumstances?

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Everyday, all day, we deal with patients. Some are easy, some are grumpy and some just are downright difficult. In our patient communication series we continue discussing how to effectively talk to the patient.

In these videos I discuss:

What do you say to a patient who has an apical lesion but doesn’t have any pain and does not want treatment? Try this little trick and see what happens.

 

What do you say to a patient regarding the success rate of endodontic treatment? Clear communication can alleviate later problems if the endodontic treatment fails.

 

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