The Endodontic Laboratory is open to faculty and students at University of the Pacific looking for research opportunities in endodontics and related fields. We welcome inquiries regarding current projects and potential collaborations.
Using special equipment such as a unique torque-testing machine and micro-computed tomography, we test nickel-titanium rotary instruments, simulating clinical procedures. Usage parameters such as particular hand movements, rotational speed and instrument sequence are of great interest for clinicians and are evaluated with respect to instrument breakage and the quality of the resulting canal preparation. Standard techniques such as bacterial culturing and fluorescent staining allow us to estimate the efficacy of root canal disinfection strategies in vitro, with particular reference to bacterial biofilms.
