If you weren't able to join us live for this webinar, don't worry, we've got you covered. Dr. Ryan Walsh, a private practice endodontist based in Fort Worth, Texas (and faculty affiliate at Texas A&M University College of Dentistry), delivered an engaging and clinically grounded presentation on vital pulp therapy and the role of bioactive materials in keeping more teeth alive. Here's a quick look at what you missed.
The Big Picture: Think Like a Pulp Biologist, Not a Technician
Dr. Walsh opened with a compelling reminder about the biological nature of the work clinicians do every day. Rather than defaulting to aggressive treatment at the first sign of decay or pulp involvement, he encouraged attendees to step back and think about the tooth's innate capacity to heal.
"Don't fall into the trap of being a technician. We're pulp biologists, we're dentists. We're trained to understand what's going on below the surface and tap into the body's innate sense to be able to heal itself. So, in that same vein, we can talk about vital pulp therapy."
This mindset shift from reactive technician to proactive biologist sets the stage for a more conservative, patient-centered approach to pulp therapy.
Highlight #1: Sodium Hypochlorite Is Your Friend on Pulp Exposures
One of the most practical takeaways from the webinar was Dr. Walsh's discussion of using sodium hypochlorite directly on an exposed pulp, something that may surprise clinicians trained to avoid bleach near vital tissue. Citing a recent (2024) Journal of Endodontics study, he explained that this simple step can dramatically change outcomes.
"This shows that in cases where the pulp was exposed and the clinician used sodium hypochlorite to clean the surface of the pulp — not inject into it but clean the surface of the exposed pulp — it had about five times more likelihood of survival or of pulp vitality at the end of the study."
Dr. Walsh recommends allowing the sodium hypochlorite to sit on the exposed pulp for five to ten minutes, both for disinfection and hemostasis, before placing any bioactive material.
Highlight #2: Not All Bioactive Materials Are Created Equal…Discoloration Matters
A significant portion of the webinar was dedicated to the science behind modern MTA-like materials and why material selection matters, especially when treating young patients. Dr. Walsh highlighted that the radio-pacifier in a material is the key culprit behind tooth discoloration, and that bismuth oxide remains a problem.
He specifically highlighted VOCO's MTA vpt as a solution to this long-standing issue, noting its use of calcium tungstate as a non-staining radio-pacifier, along with a clever built-in color indicator:
"It starts blue, but as the material sets, it turns white. So it's not discoloring teeth, not in the least. It's just transitioning to tell the clinician that, hey, we've gone from a wet material to a set material."
Beyond esthetics, MTA vpt also addresses two other common MTA pain points: handling and set time. With a consistent powder-to-liquid ratio and a set time of approximately three minutes, it's designed to be practical and repeatable in a busy clinical environment.
Highlight #3: Complete Caries Removal Is Non-Negotiable
Despite the advances in bioactive materials, Dr. Walsh was emphatic that no material can compensate for leaving bacteria behind. The AAE's guidelines on vital pulp therapy reinforce this point, and Dr. Walsh underscored it with a clear clinical rationale:
"If simply removing an extra half a millimeter of decay exposes the pulp, but provides a more predictable long-term treatment, let's go that route. We can manage the pulp exposure. It's hard to manage bacteria."
This is perhaps the most actionable takeaway of the entire webinar: remove the decay, trust the biology, and let the material do what it's designed to do.
Want the Full Experience?
These three highlights only scratch the surface of what Dr. Walsh covered, including a real-world clinical case of a young patient with a traumatic pulp exposure who left the office with a completed pulpotomy and a beautiful composite restoration, all in one visit.
Head over to VOCOLearning.com to watch the full webinar recording and earn CE credit at your own pace.