Root Canal Academy

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

Dr. Brett Gilbert: My Foe, My Friend

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Greetings Clinicians,
My esteemed colleague Dr. Brett Gilbert of Access Endo interviewed me for his Endo Files. Brett and I used to be opposed to each other–because before we met the endodontic royalty asked us to debate each other at a conference about key topics in endodontics.

We battled, then realized we like each other’s approach and that we share a lot personally and professionally. Now we want to be collaborators.

Interview topics include:
– Dental missions, giving back
– Mentoring is important, thank you Dr. Stephanie Sidow
– Reid was bad but made extraordinary commitment to be real good
– Don’t be bored unless it’s a surf board
– 4 Quarters of the Root Canal Game playbook
– Why Reid excites factory representatives
– Getting out of the comfort zone
– Staring at a canal
– Access, obturation, patency, lunch
– Puff Daddys
– Cutting the cord
– Brett sees freedom on the other side of fear
– Misdiagnosis and making diagnosis fun
– A magic wand
– The need for continuous endo study
– How to study endo

Enjoy the interview. Thank you Dr. Brett Gilbert!

Happy Endo My Friends,
Reid
ReidPullen@RootCanalAcademy.com

 

Removing Calcium Hydroxide

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Greetings Clinicians,
Our last post was a primer ‘Using Calcium Hydroxide,’ as part of our preview of the forthcoming publication of Learning Lessons. In this post, we present Case #5 ‘Removing Calcium Hydroxide.’ I get these questions about removing Ca(OH)2.

  • Why do I need to use Calcium Hydroxide? Why not just
    leave the canal dry?
  • What if some Ca(OH)2 is left on the canal walls and you obturate?
  • Can Ca(OH)2 block you out on the 2nd visit?

Here are answers and procedure tips in my Learning Lessons Case #5:

Learning Lessons Book 1, Case #5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

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

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