Advances in endodontic surgery: Part 1

It is generally accepted that non-surgical endodontic therapy eliminates periapical inflammation or infection and allows teeth to be restored that previously might have been extracted. However, failure does occur in a small percentage of cases. When confronted with such cases the clinician should be prepared to initiate alternative procedures, including surgery, to enhance the rate of success. This, the first of two articles, describes refinements in endodontic surgical techniques and introduces the research that has been used to develop new materials and devices.