Determining the Correct Course of Endodontic Retreatment With No Patient History Available

Area of Science:

• Dental sciences
• Forensic dentistry
• Endodontics

Background:

• Forensic endodontics is a clinical concept for diagnosing endodontic issues in previously treated teeth.
• It differs from conventional retreatment due to the absence of patient history and prior radiographic records.

Purpose of the Study:

• To define forensic endodontics and its clinical application.
• To outline diagnostic and treatment considerations in cases lacking treatment history.

Main Methods:

• Diagnosis of tooth pain and periradicular lesions in endodontically treated teeth.
• Evaluation of retreatment options including conventional nonsurgical retreatment, surgical endodontics, and extraction.
• Presentation of an intentional replantation surgical case as a clinical example.

Main Results:

• Clinicians must establish a pretreatment diagnosis and etiology without historical data.
• Retreatment decisions are based on current clinical and radiographic findings.

Conclusions:

• Forensic endodontics provides a framework for managing complex endodontic cases with limited information.
• Proper diagnosis and tailored treatment are crucial for successful outcomes in forensic endodontic scenarios.