In which hurry are we when we operate? And why?

The images that I have put are that of a mandibular third molar which was extracted by a general dentist, and an anterior root canal which was access opened by an endodontist. I witnessed the first at a clinic where I went to enquire for consultations, and the second was forwarded to me for an opinion regarding the treatment plan. To my knowledge, both the operating dentists of the independent images are very good at their work. If some of you are still wondering what’s with that extracted tooth? Then well, it does have a roughly 2-3mms of apical segment broken from one root, and the marginal gingiva is attached to the tooth on its proximal and buccal aspect. And with the radiograph! I am sure many of you from the other specialties would be gasping and thinking, wow! I am indeed better than the endodontists! But my point to put these here is to make you aware that good practitioners too may create blunders when in hurry!

While at the clinic for consultation where this extraction was done, the dental surgeon asked me to wait for 5-10minutes before he could finish his extraction. He smiled and boasted that the minimum time in which he extracted the tooth once was 28seconds! I was surprised because I didn’t know that we had records to make while we were working! He finished the present case too in a hurry, and immediately sent the patient off, while he went out to attend a call himself. It was then that I did notice the tooth and wondered if he knew that the poor attached gingiva which he had removed for free was of some importance to we poor periodontists, and the root segment that he left inside may be a cause of constant trouble in the long run! The thing is, that both the small things could have been avoided if he took a little more time, and had some more patience with the patient. With the second patient where the file is happily inserted between the roots, I have been told that the endodontist is really good but was consulting in a hurry thereby ended up perforating the tooth.

What is with the hurry? We want to show people that we are fast? We want to do cases in bulk, irrespective of what we are treating in each case? We want to enter the Limca book of records? No matter how perfect you are! Look, understand and devote some time to doing your cases, because even the most perfect clinicians may create blunders when in hurry!

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