Residents of the Conservative Dentistry Specialist Program at the Faculty of Dentistry, Universitas Gadjah Mada (FKG UGM) had the opportunity to participate in a Skill Labs session on endocrown restoration on Thursday, 5 December 2024, at the Dental Learning Center, 3rd Floor. The session was led by Dr. Drg. Raphael Tri Endra Untara, Sp.KG., M.Kes., who guided the residents in learning the innovative and conservative endocrown restoration technique for post-endodontic teeth.
Endocrown is a partial crown restoration made from ceramic or composite resin that is bonded to a root canal-treated tooth using resin cement. This technique utilizes the pulp chamber for enhanced adhesion strength without invading the root canal, while also reinforcing enamel for improved bonding durability. During the session, Dr. Raphael explained the technical aspects of endocrown restoration, including its indications, contraindications, advantages, and limitations compared to the traditional post-core-crown technique.
Endocrown is recommended for teeth with extensive coronal tissue loss and successfully treated root canals, but it is not suitable for patients with parafunctional habits (such as bruxism) or poor saliva isolation. This technique offers several benefits, including a conservative preparation design, cost and time efficiency, and simplified retreatment without requiring post removal However, challenges such as debonding risks and root fractures must also be considered.
During the hands-on session, residents practiced preparing and bonding endocrowns under Dr. Raphael’s supervision. The preparation process involved occlusal reduction using a diamond wheel bur and cervical margin preparation to enhance the bonding surface using the cervical sidewalk technique. The bonding process was carried out with adhesive resin cement, ensuring optimal adhesion strength for post-endodontic teeth.
This Skill Labs session aimed to enhance residents’ skills in managing post-endodontic restorations using a more conservative and efficient method while promoting endocrowns as an effective restoration solution in clinical practice.
Additionally, this initiative supports the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being, by improving the quality of conservative post-endodontic dental care; and SDG 4: Quality Education, by providing residents with hands-on training in innovative clinical restoration techniques.
Contributor: drg. Rahmadani Puspitasari, MDSc. | Author: Diva Luthfiana Lathifah
