International Endodontics Program

Course Description & Goals

The purpose of this course is to ensure that students are proficient in clinical endodontics through evaluating each individual clinical case posted by each student on the Endolit online forum. Instruction will be provided so that the student will develop clinical knowledge and skills in patient management, practice management, and attain proficiency levels in clinical procedures required of an Endodontic specialist.

Learning Sources

• Online material provided on Endolit and through the Endodontic UB online library.
• WEB based reference material.

Clinic Guidelines

1. In all matters, concern for the patient takes precedence.
2. All patients must be examined clinically and radiographically and medical and dental histories evaluated. Students will determine the pulpal and periapical diagnosis and plan a course of treatment. All relevant consultations must occur prior to treatment initiation. The diagnosis and treatment plan must be presented in each posted case. 
3. Endodontic surgery
   1. Surgery must be indicated as the best care of the patient and not solely as an educational experience
   2. All surgical procedures are to be video recorded and photographed
   3. All pathologic tissue must be sent for biopsy
4. All clinical cases will be reviewed by the Program Director
5. Each student must present at least 50 non-surgical and 5 surgical cases covering different aspects of endodontics (initial treatment, retreatment, management of obstructions and surgeries in the anterior and posterior region etc)
6. All cases presented must include pre-operative, intra-operative and post-operative radiographs at high quality in addition to clinic pictures when possible.

Evaluation

P/F grades will be assigned based on:

1. Anonymous evaluation from Endolit members
2. Program director’s review of completed cases

-       Student must maintain an average score for their cases not less than: 

4/5     for the “Quality of endodontic treatment” 

2.5/5     for the “Documentation quality” 

Regarding level of complexity:

Non-surgical cases

At least 5 cases should be between 4-5/5

At least 30 cases between 2-3/5

Surgical cases

1 cases should be between 4-5/5

2 cases between 2-3/5

The evaluation criteria are available on Endolit.

Challenges

The student has the right to challenge any aspect of their evaluation. The final decision / evaluation remains at the program faculty’s discretion and judgement.

Course Description & Goals

The purpose of this course is to enable students to have adequate endodontic knowledge based on evidence based dentistry.

Learning Resources

• Journal of Endodontics
• International Endodontic Journal
• Journal of the American Dental Association
• Australian Endodontic Journal
• Oral Surgery, Oral Medicine, Oral Pathology, Oral Radiology and Endodontology and others

Course Material

• Students will be provided with list of articles and their summaries that they should cover on a quarterly basis.
• Recorded lectures will be provided on these topics through the Endolit digital library. Lectures will be provided in a specific sequence and limited number of lectures will be allowed to view every week.

General Objectives

Student should be able to have:

1. Thorough knowledge of Endodontic literature in the following topics
   1. Pulp Biology
   2. Microbiology
   3. Root canal disinfection
   4. Diagnosis
   5. Endodontic retreatment
   6. Endodontic surgery
   7. Root canal Anatomy
   8. Pain & Pain control
   9. Endodontic outcome
   10. Vital pulp therapy
   11. Dental Trauma
   12. Local Anesthesia
   13. Restoration of Endodontically treated teeth and Leakage
   14. Systemic diseases and Emergencies.
2. The ability to quote and discuss the controversies present in endodontic literature in the clinical and biological aspects.
3. To correlate findings in the literature with clinical endodontics.
4. Defend his/her method of instrumentation and obturation with documented literature.
5. List and describe the physical and biologic properties of various endodontic materials in relation to endodontic therapy.
6. To be familiarized with recent findings relating to diagnosis and treatment of pulp and periapical diseases.
7. To discuss the controversies that exists in the literature with respect to the biology of the pulp and the periapical tissues.
8. To stimulate critical analysis of experimental findings.
9. To correlate findings in the literature with clinical endodontics.

Evaluation

• Upon completion of all the topics covered in the classic literature section in the order provided in the program, the student will request to take the oral exam. The oral exam can only be taken after passing Part 1 (clinical endodontics).
• Location: On-line based exam through Skype or similar means
• Duration of the exam: 1 hour
• Passing grade: 70% 
• Instructions on ideal answers will be provided as part of the course material.
• Number of attempts to take the exam: 3

Course Failure

• In case of failure of the oral exam, the student may retake the exam after at least 2 months.
• If the student fails the exam 3 times, he/she will have to repeat the course before taking the exam again.
• Cost of retaking the exam: $500

Course Description and Goal

The purpose of this course is to review and critique articles currently published in endodontic journal on a month-by-month basis. The goal is to provide the students the opportunity to learn about the current literature published in the field of endodontics.

Learning Resources

• Journal of Endodontics
• International Endodontic Journal

Course Material

• Students are required to read the original articles selected by Endolit as “Articles of the month” every month.
• Students will be informed of these articles via email and summaries of these articles will be provided via Endolit current literature section.
• Number of articles can range between 2 – 6 / month.

Outcome

The student should be able to:

1. Critique current literature and point out study limitations.
2. Correlate findings in the literature with clinical endodontics.

Evaluation

• After completion of part 1 (clinical endodontic) and Part 2 (classic literature), student will request to sit for the written exam.
• Exam will consist of 150-200 multiple choice questions
• 2/3 of the questions will be related directly to articles published throughout the last three years from the Endolit current literature list.
• 1/3 of the questions will be related to general endodontic questions at the Post-graduate level.
• Students must attend the exam at University at Buffalo. If the student is unable to attend, and provides a proof for inability to arrange for travel, an alternative exam method will be provided. Student, however, is responsible for all the expenses.
• Exam duration: 3 hours
• Passing grade: 60% 
• Number of attempts to take the exam: 3

Course Failure

• In case of failure, the student may reapply for the exam after at least 2 months.
• If the student fails the exam 3 times, he/she will have to repeat part 2 & 3 of the program.