Foundational Basics of Endodontic Treatment

Friday, September 26, 2025

12:00 PM - 1:00 PM

Credits: 1

COURSE DESCRIPTION: 

This intensive hands-on endodontic workshop is designed to enhance the clinical skills of dental practitioners in root canal therapy using typodont models. Participants will gain practical experience in access cavity preparation, canal instrumentation, and three-dimensional obturation techniques. Through detailed demonstrations and guided practice, the course will emphasize the importance of precision, efficiency, and preservation of tooth structure. In addition to mastering core procedures, attendees will learn valuable tips, tricks, and clinical pearls to overcome common challenges and improve endodontic outcomes in daily practice.

OBJECTIVES:

1. Understand the principles of endodontic access cavity design and apply them effectively on typodont models.
2. Demonstrate proficiency in root canal instrumentation, including working length determination, glide path creation, and use of rotary file systems.
3. Execute proper irrigation protocols for canal disinfection.
4. Apply different obturation techniques.
5. Incorporate clinical tips and tricks to enhance the predictability and efficiency of root canal treatments.
6. Critically assess and troubleshoot endodontic procedures for continuous improvement in practice.

Dr. Tim Finkler was raised in Chester, Virginia. He received a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from the Virginia Military Institute in 1990. In 2001, he received his Doctor of Dental Surgery from the Medical College of Virginia, Virginia Commonwealth University. After dental school, he continued his dental education in the two-year General Practice Residency at McGuire Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Richmond, Virginia. After five years in private practice as a general dentist, he returned to VCU and joined the Department of Endodontics. In 2011, he received his Certificate in Endodontics and Master's Degree in Dentistry from Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Dentistry.

During 2011, he also retired from over 20 years of service in the Virginia Air National Guard. His military service included time with the 203rd REDHORSE and the 192nd Fighter Wing. He has been deployed to both Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. In 2011, he joined Commonwealth Endodontics. Dr. Finkler is the first endodontist to provide IV Conscious Sedation to patients in the Richmond area.  Dr. Finkler was initially trained in administering IV Conscious Sedation during his general practice residency at the McGuire VAMC. His IV Conscious Sedation training was recently updated through the Duquesne University, Mylan School of Pharmacy in 2011. Dr. Finkler enjoys helping patients with dental anxiety maintain their natural teeth by providing comfortable endodontic care.

Dr. Finkler is a member of the American Dental Association, the Virginia Dental Association, the Richmond Dental Society, the American Association of Endodontists, and the Virginia Academy of Endodontists. He also teaches part-time as an adjunct professor at VCU School of Dentistry, Department of Endodontics.

Dr. Finkler currently resides in Glen Allen, Virginia, with his wife Kim and their four wonderful children. He enjoys sports, most any outdoor activity, and spending time with his family and friends.

Dr. Amber Ather earned his Bachelor of Dental Surgery (B.D.S.) and Master of Dental Surgery (M.D.S.) in Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics from Manipal University, India, in 2007 and 2011, respectively. He then served as a full-time Assistant Professor of Endodontics at his alma mater in India. Dr. Ather later moved to Colorado, where he obtained his D.D.S. in 2015. Following that, he worked as a general dentist in Texas. He received his Certificate in Endodontics from the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio in 2020 and completed his M.S. degree in 2021, focusing his research on pulp biology, for which he received a grant from the AAE Foundation for Endodontics. Dr. Ather served as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Endodontics at Virginia Commonwealth University School of Dentistry from 2021 to 2023. His research areas include pulp biology, pain, and surgical endodontics. He is on the Scientific Advisory Board for several journals, including the Journal of Endodontics, Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics, and PLOS ONE. Having published several high-impact research papers, Dr. Ather is committed to a long-term career as a clinician-scientist. Dr. Ather, a Diplomate of the American Board of Endodontics, currently works as an Associate Endodontist at Commonwealth Endodontics and serves as an affiliate faculty member in the Department of Endodontics at Virginia Commonwealth University School of Dentistry. In his free time, he enjoys traveling with his family and hiking.

Dr. Joe Vaughn was born and raised in northeastern Alabama. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from the University of Montevallo, and in 2015, he received his Doctor of Dental Medicine from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Following dental school, Dr. Vaughn moved to Seattle, WA, to pursue additional training by completing a one-year General Practice Residency within the University of Washington hospital system. During this program, he gained experience treating a medically complex patient population as well as receiving credentials in IV sedation. Following the completion of the GPR in 2016, Dr. Vaughn began work for a public health organization in downtown Seattle as a full-time general dentist, where he helped to treat the city’s most vulnerable population. In 2018, he began splitting his time equally between the public health organization and as an associate dentist at a nearby private practice.

After five years as a general practitioner in Seattle, Dr. Vaughn and his wife made the cross-country move to Richmond to begin residency in Endodontics at the Virginia Commonwealth University. He received his Certificate in Endodontics and Master of Science in Dentistry in 2023.

Dr. Vaughn is a member of the American Dental Association and the American Association of Endodontists and is pursuing Board Certification in Endodontics. Dr. Vaughn and his wife, Rica, have fallen in love with the Richmond area and look forward to serving this great community. Dr. Vaughn’s wife is also a dentist and serves as a full-time faculty member at the VCU School of Dentistry! In his spare time, Dr. Vaughn enjoys hiking, spending time outdoors, discovering new restaurants around the city, and watching his favorite sports teams, the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Seattle Seahawks.

Dr. Stephen "Nick" Schroeder was raised in South Boston, Virginia. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology from James Madison University. In 2012, he received his Doctor of Dental Surgery from the Medical College of Virginia School of Dentistry. After two years in general dental private practice, Dr. Schroeder returned to academia for his residency in Endodontics at Virginia Commonwealth University, where he received his Certificate in Endodontics in 2016.

In 2018, Dr. Schroeder earned his Board Certification from the American Board of Endodontics. He is an active member of the American Dental Association and the American Association of Endodontics. He is passionate about providing volunteer dental care to those in need by participating in various service & mission projects. Dr. Schroeder volunteers with the Mission of Mercy, Piedmont Virginia Dental Health Clinic, and with Richmond’s homeless community through CARITAS. He has also traveled to Honduras for a medical mission trip, providing dental services to those with limited or no access to dental care. Dr. Schroeder also devotes time to CrossOver Healthcare Ministry, providing dental treatment for people in need.

Dr. Schroeder enjoys spending time with his wife and two young boys. Dr. Schroeder loves cooking and creating new and unique dishes as well as finding ingredients at local farmers’ markets.

The Speaker has a financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with the corporate organization offering financial support or grant monies for this continuing dental education program.

The VDA Team does not have any financial arrangements/affiliations to disclose relating to the content of this presentation.