Endodontics

Dr Aisling Donnelly qualified from Trinity College Dublin (TCD) with an honours degree in Dental Science in 2010. After qualification she was selected to be a house officer in the Dublin Dental University Hospital where she gained valuable post graduate training. She then moved to the UK and worked for 3 years in general practice. She completed courses in restorative dentistry in the Eastman Dental Institute London, and it was during this time she developed her passion for endodontics and desire to specialise in this area. In 2014, she returned to Dublin and was appointed Lecturer/Registrar in the DDUH where she worked for 3 years. Her roles mainly involved working in specialised endodontic clinics as well as working in A&E and supervising students. Upon completion of her post she worked full time for two years as an endodontist in a specialised endodontic clinic in Galway before returning to Dublin in 2020.

She has completed her Membership to the Faculty of Dental Surgery examinations with the Royal College of Surgeons Ireland and was awarded a distinction for completion of her 3-year Kings College London Masters in Endodontics. She has also been awarded a distinction by Trinity College Dublin for a diploma in conscious sedation making her one of the few practitioners in the country qualified to provide specialist endodontic treatment under sedation. She has published papers in the International Endodontic Journal and she regularly peer reviews manuscripts for this journal. She has completed multiple prize-winning audits including one on the endodontic training of dental students in the DDUH. She is am a member of the Irish Endodontic Society, European Endodontic Society and the Irish Dental Association and regularly attends conferences to keep up to date with the latest information on endodontics. She has also lectured on endodontics for the Irish Dental Association.

In her spare time, she enjoys partaking in endurance events which have included a 70.3 Ironman triathlon and a 10k open water swim.

Endodontics is the field of dentistry which concerns the disease of the pulp tissue inside your tooth.

Pulpal inflammation and infection do not always result in immediate signs or symptoms. To prevent local damage to the bone surrounding a diseased pulp, this tissue can be removed and replaced with a filling material called gutta percha.

By carrying out this procedure which is completed entirely under microscopic conditions, your endodontist is aiming to prolong the life of your tooth for years to come.

What can I expect during a visit with my Endodontist?

All clinical procedures from topical anesthetic application to final occlusal refinements are carried out using a state of the art surgical microscope (A6 6-step microscope).

In order to provide specialist endodontic care at the highest level, an initial consultation is carried out, including:

• A comprehensive pain history based on your presenting symptoms
• A digital radiographic assessment
• A clinical microscopic examination to assess the condition of the tooth
• The neighbouring teeth as well as the supporting periodontal tissues

A complete discussion will follow, explaining the pre-treatment condition of the tooth and the working diagnosis based on the presenting symptoms. Treatment options will then be described, including, the predictability of the different treatment options, the expected duration of treatment visits, visit number and a discussion of fees.