Strategies for More Effective Pain Control during Root Canal Treatment

Prof. Paul V. Abbott AO BDSc, MDS, FRACDS(Endo), FPFA, FADI, FICD, FACD, FIADT

Pain control during dental treatment is essential for patient comfort as well as to reduce post-operative pain. Unfortunately, local anaesthesia is not as effective as we (and our patients!) would like it to be. In particular, when treating patients who have pain prior to treatment - such as with acute irreversible pulpitis - obtaining adequate local anaesthesia is even more difficult. A series of studies performed by the speaker's research groups in recent years has addressed this issue and these provide various strategies that can help to improve the success of local anaesthetics. Some strategies involve systemic medications, some utilise different LA solutions and some require different injection techniques. These can be used individually or in combination, depending on the particular tooth being treated. This presentation will summarise these studies and provide strategies to help manage patients more effectively and more predictably – with the aim to have less pain for both the patient and the clinician!

About The Lecturer: Prof. Paul Abbott is the Winthrop Professor of Clinical Dentistry at The University of Western Australia. He is a Specialist Endodontist and works in private practice on a part-time basis. Prior to taking a full-time University position in 2002, he spent 17 years in private specialist endodontic practice in Perth and Melbourne. He was Head of the School of Dentistry at The University of Western Australia and Director of the Oral Health Centre of WA from 2003-2009. He has presented over 800 lectures and courses in 42 countries. He has published 180 articles in refereed journals and 23 textbook chapters. In 2015, he was appointed as Editor-in-Chief of the international journal Dental Traumatology. He has received numerous awards for excellence in teaching and for service to the dental profession, particularly in education and research. In 2015, he was appointed as an Officer of the Order of Australia.

Cancellation: Cancellation received 7 days inclusive prior to the date of the event cannot be refunded because we are bound to the catering contract. Refund of registration fees is always at the discretion of the organising committee.