ABE Endodontics study materials
ABE Endodontics study resources

ABE Endodontics study plan

ABE Endodontics · Give each week a clear focus.

8 weeks · About 7 hours per week

Week 1

Nonsurgical Root Canal Treatment: Access, Cleaning, Shaping, and Disinfection

  • Diagram the access-to-obturation sequence for a necrotic molar, labeling at least six decision points from access outline through final irrigation.

  • Compare four shaping systems by taper, metallurgy, recommended motion, and one clinical risk for each.

  • Write an irrigation protocol specifying concentration, volume, contact time, activation method, and safety controls for a tooth with an open apex.

  • Solve 20 self-authored vignettes on canal negotiation, ledge avoidance, and perforation recognition, recording the rationale for each answer.

Your checkpoint

A one-page shaping-and-irrigation decision matrix plus a timed 30-question self-quiz scored at 80% or higher, with a written correction for every missed item.

Week 2

Nonsurgical Root Canal Treatment: Access, Cleaning, Shaping, and Disinfection & Clinical Diagnosis, Pulp Vitality Testing, and Treatment Planning

  • Build a curved-canal preparation checklist covering orifice shaping, glide path, patency, and anti-zip measures.

  • Apply a diagnostic hierarchy of history, pulp testing, percussion, probing, and radiograph interpretation to 15 written cases.

  • Differentiate irreversible pulpitis, symptomatic apical periodontitis, asymptomatic apical periodontitis, and acute apical abscess using at least three clinical findings each.

  • Interpret the sensitivity and specificity of cold testing, electric pulp testing, and percussion in a short written summary.

Your checkpoint

A 15-case diagnostic worksheet with pulpal and apical diagnoses, confidence ratings, and a correction log for any missed finding.

Week 3

Clinical Diagnosis, Pulp Vitality Testing, and Treatment Planning & Pulpal and Periapical Biology, Pathogenesis, and Histopathology

  • Describe the histopathologic progression from reversible pulpal injury to necrosis and apical periodontitis, naming four hallmark features.

  • Correlate clinical test results with histologic states and explain at least three false-positive and false-negative scenarios.

  • Construct a treatment-planning algorithm for deep caries, cracked teeth, and previously root-treated teeth.

  • Evaluate restorability, periodontal status, and root fracture risk in 10 written prognosis scenarios.

Your checkpoint

A treatment-planning flowchart plus a 10-scenario prognosis table with a defensible rating and rationale for each case.

Week 4

Pulpal and Periapical Biology, Pathogenesis, and Histopathology & Endodontic Microbiology, Inflammation, and Host Response

  • Explain how biofilm ecology and extraradicular infection contribute to persistent apical periodontitis.

  • Summarize host inflammatory mediators and bone-resorption pathways in periapical lesions.

  • Distinguish contamination, colonization, and infection in endodontic sampling and state the clinical implication of each.

  • Justify when antibiotics are indicated versus not indicated for endodontic infections.

Your checkpoint

A one-page concept map linking endodontic microbiology to host response and a 25-question quiz scored at 80% or higher.

Week 5

Obturation, Coronal Seal, and Restoration of the Endodontically Treated Tooth & Nonsurgical Retreatment, Instrument Separation, and Management of Procedural Complications

  • Compare cold lateral, warm vertical, and carrier-based obturation by fill density, length control, and fracture risk.

  • Design a coronal-seal and restoration plan for anterior, premolar, and molar endodontically treated teeth.

  • Analyze 10 retreatment cases for missed canals, ledges, separated instruments, and perforations, and select a management strategy for each.

  • Explain bypass and removal techniques for separated instruments and identify when referral or surgery is preferable.

Your checkpoint

A retreatment decision table covering at least eight complication scenarios with a preferred and an alternative management pathway.

Week 6

Nonsurgical Retreatment, Instrument Separation, and Management of Procedural Complications & Surgical Endodontics: Periradicular Surgery, Intentional Replantation, and Microsurgical Principles

  • Outline indications, contraindications, and flap-design choices for periradicular surgery.

  • Describe microsurgical principles including magnification, illumination, ultrasonic retropreparation, and retrofill material selection.

  • Plan the management of a perforation, a separated instrument, and a failed previous root canal in three written cases.

  • Compare intentional replantation with apical surgery for a specific molar scenario, citing at least four decision factors.

Your checkpoint

Three written case plans with a surgical-versus-nonsurgical justification and a 20-question quiz scored at 80% or higher.

Week 7

Surgical Endodontics: Periradicular Surgery, Intentional Replantation, and Microsurgical Principles & Dental Trauma, Root Resorption, and Regenerative Endodontic Procedures

  • Classify internal, external cervical, inflammatory, and replacement resorption by radiographic and clinical features.

  • Apply trauma management principles to crown fractures, luxation injuries, and avulsion, including timing and splinting.

  • Explain regenerative endodontic procedure indications, disinfection limits, blood-clot technique, and follow-up expectations.

  • Sequence care for a traumatized immature tooth from the emergency visit through a 12-month review.

Your checkpoint

A trauma timeline and resorption classification table covering at least six injury or resorption scenarios.

Week 8

Dental Trauma, Root Resorption, and Regenerative Endodontic Procedures & Local Anesthesia, Pain Management, and Endodontic Pharmacology

  • Build a local anesthesia plan for a mandibular molar with irreversible pulpitis, including at least two supplemental techniques.

  • Summarize analgesic and antibiotic pharmacology relevant to endodontic pain, including dosing, timing, and adverse effects.

  • Review all nine domains through spaced retrieval and correct every missed item from prior quizzes.

  • Complete two full-length timed mock exams and analyze error patterns by domain.

Your checkpoint

A final one-page high-yield summary sheet plus two mock-exam score reports with an overall score of 80% or higher and a domain-specific remediation list.

Milestones

Week 2: Shaping-and-irrigation decision matrix is complete, and the 30-question quiz is scored at 80% or higher with a written correction log.

Week 4: A 50-question cumulative quiz covering domains 1 through 4 is scored at 75% or higher, with a remediation list for every missed concept.

Week 6: All retreatment, complication, and surgical case plans are complete, and the 20-question quiz is scored at 80% or higher.

Week 8: Two full-length mock exams are completed with an overall score of 80% or higher, and every domain below 75% has a written remediation plan.