As dentists, we hold ourselves to a very high standard. We work in a complex environment, and we strive to provide long-lasting, reliable treatment in a bacteria-filled, damage-prone area like the mouth.
I often explain to my patients, “In my practice, even a millimeter of deviation is critical.” Although patients are often surprised to hear this, we dentists know it’s true.
It’s our rigorous training and skill that allow us to provide results that last for decades in a highly challenging oral environment.
The key to successful dentistry is that we insist on ensuring that each step is correct before moving on to the next. Dentists never compromise on quality, and this is something we pride ourselves on.
Rigorous inspections are part of our daily routine
When we place crowns, we check fit, margins, contacts, morphology, and anatomy; when we place direct restorations, we ensure that caries is thoroughly removed, matrix is accurately placed, margins are intact, occlusion is correct, and polish is good.
We strive for perfection at every step to achieve the best clinical results. We don’t move forward without meeting our high standards.
Applying this concept to new technology
According to the American Academy of Endodontics (AAE), about 75% of root canal treatments are performed by general dentists.
The AAE estimates that general dentists perform about two root canal treatments per week on average. However, it is often difficult to determine the success of the treatment on the day of treatment, and about 5-15% of cases require repeat treatment.
When initial treatment fails, patients are often referred to a specialist endodontist, which not only means that they may have to pay for the treatment again, but also incurs time costs and affects the treatment experience.
For dentists, this situation affects trust with patients and may also have a negative impact on the reputation of the practice. Sometimes, dentists are required to refund the fees, which is equivalent to completing a time-consuming treatment for free.
We can’t evaluate the success of root canal treatment on the same day, until now
For a long time, root canal treatment has lacked a method to determine whether disinfection is sufficient on the same day. Although bacterial cultures can be performed, they are time-consuming and do not always produce clear results.
If there was an easy way to assess root canal cleanliness before filling, determine if the risk of infection is minimal, and do it in 5 seconds – it would be a huge change in dental practice.
That’s exactly what the new technology Endocator from Vista Apex can do.
Endocator: Instant feedback on root canal cleanliness
Endocator is a small, mobile-sized chairside device that can be placed on an endodontic cart or table and has a built-in rechargeable battery.
It does not culture bacteria, but instead assesses whether pathological cellular material is still in the root canal by detecting adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and other biomarkers.
ATP is an energy carrier for cellular activity and is found in bacteria or living tissue. In endodontic treatment, it becomes a key indicator of cleanliness.
Endocator uses bioluminescence technology, which can complete the test in seconds without waiting for bacterial culture.
The operation process is efficient and intuitive
The doctor completes mechanical preparation and irrigation as usual, using the original instruments and disinfectants, without changing the operation process.
After the cleaning step, the root canal is thoroughly flushed with sterile water to remove residual fluid and debris, and the water is then drawn off and dripped onto a special cotton swab. This swab is then placed in a test tube containing a special enzyme, which reacts with the enzyme to produce light.
After gently shaking to mix, the test tube is inserted into the Endocator, and a score of 0 to 100 is obtained – the higher the number, the more residual cell matter there is, indicating that further cleaning is needed.
It is worth noting that the presence of ATP is sufficient to reflect residual pathology even in the absence of culturable bacteria, making it a more sensitive test.
The entire process takes about 1 minute, but it can greatly increase the confidence and effectiveness of the treatment. The doctor can use this to decide whether to perform a root canal filling immediately.
This is a major breakthrough in the dental treatment process
For the first time, this technology allows for real-time, quantitative evaluation of the cleaning effect of root canal treatment. As a clinical dentist, I have never seen a technology that can guide us so clearly when to proceed. Endocator does it.
Easy to use and easy to integrate
When you purchase Endocator, the kit includes the device and all the materials needed for testing. The test swabs are packaged in a resealable foil bag and clearly labeled for easy use. Endocator can be placed on the treatment table and comes with a bracket for adjusting the angle to make it easier for doctors to read the test results.
Let clinicians move forward with more confidence
As a dentist who is passionate about cutting-edge technology, I have seen many exciting innovations. But there are not many products that I can’t wait to integrate into my diagnosis and treatment process, and Endocator is one of them.
I include it in every root canal treatment I perform as an important guarantee to achieve higher clinical standards.
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