One comment from a senior dentist completely changed how I clean root canals

I'd been doing it one way for years, always going in with the smallest file first and working up slow. Last month the periodontist walked by my chair and said I was wasting time, that I should go straight for the largest file that fits and save the small ones for tight spots only. I tried it on my next three patients and cut my prep time by almost 10 minutes per tooth. Now I feel stupid for not asking sooner. Anyone else get a piece of feedback that made you realize you'd been doing something the hard way for no reason?

3 comments

3 Comments

david_rivera422d ago

Only one periodontist? I got six conflicting opinions before lunch.

the_jamie21d ago

Six conflicting opinions before lunch" sounds about right. Best thing I ever did was take notes on a voice memo right after each consult. You forget half the details by the time you're in the parking lot. Then I'd compare the treatment plans side by side, looking for what they agreed on rather than what they argued about. Usually the common ground was the simplest fix, not the fanciest one. Saved me a lot of second guessing.

danielmason20d ago

Yo that tip from the periodontist is gold. I've found that most of the time in this field, the simplest approach is the one nobody tells you about until someone finally calls you out. For me it was learning to trust my gut on file selection instead of overthinking every step.