District I Component of the American Association of Endodontists
2023 MAE FALL MEETING LECTURE
A Perspective on Vital Pulp Therapy
By Craig Hirschberg, DDS
October 23, 2023 at the Hilton Dedham, 25 Allied Dr, Dedham, MA 02026
6PM Cocktail Hour and Vendor Showcase
7PM - 9PM Lecture (2 CE)
Craig S. Hirschberg, D.D.S., currently serves as AAE President and has served on the AAE Executive Committee since 2019. He served as a Director of District II on the AAE Board from 2013 – 2016.
He is a native of Cincinnati, Ohio and received his BS from University of Cincinnati, his DDS from New York University College of Dentistry and his endodontic training at New Jersey Dental School/UMDNJ (now Rutgers School of Dental Medicine).
Dr. Hirschberg was in private practice, limited to endodontics, initially in New York City and for many years in Chatham, NJ.
Dr. Hirschberg joined faculty at the Rutgers School of Dental Medicine in 2001, initially one day/week, and gradually increased his commitment to full-time. He has been Chair of the Department of Endodontics since 2013, where he also served as the Director of the Advanced Education Program in Endodontics through 2018.
Dr. Hirschberg has been a Trustee of the Foundation for Endodontics since 2017. He has chaired and/or served on numerous standing and special committees for both AAE and the Foundation for Endodontics.
Outside of organized endodontics, Dr. Hirschberg serves as an endodontic site visitor and consultant for the Commission on Dental Accreditation and is involved with test construction for the Advanced Dental Admissions Test, the Integrated National Dental Board Examination, and the Dental Licensure Objective Structured Clinical Examination (DLOSCE). He chaired the Council of Advanced Education Programs for the American Dental Education Association and served many years on their Legislative Advisory Committee. He continues to serve on the Dental Admissions Testing Committee for the ADA.
Dr. Hirschberg is Diplomate of the American Board of Endodontics, and a Fellow of both the International College of Dentists and the American College of Dentists.
Abstract: In the mature adult dentition a diagnosis of symptomatic irreversible pulpitis had until recently necessitated either root canal treatment or extraction of the involved tooth. Vital Pulp Therapy techniques can preserve the vitality and function of the dental pulp which may allow a patient to avoid root canal treatment. This presentation will discuss where Vital Pulp Therapy, long a mainstay treatment for immature teeth, might be considered an alternative to root canal treatment in pulpally involved teeth.
Learning objectives:
Understand the genesis, intent, and content of the AAE Position Statement on vital Pulp Therapy.
Discuss limitations of diagnostic terminology and diagnostic tests as they relate to Vital Pulp Therapy
Understand barriers to VPT being widely adopted as definitive treatment for endodontically involved mature teeth.