September 2025 Branch Meeting - Resorption and Regenerative Endodontics - Dr Howard Chao and Dr Sara Jardine

Dr Howard Chao will deliver a presentation on Resorption and Dr Sara Jardine will present on Regenerative Endodontics.

Resorption:  Resorption is a pathological loss of dental hard tissue.  It can present as either internal or external resorption, each with distinct aetiologies, clinical presentations, and management challenges.  While some forms are transient and self-limiting, others are progressive and can affect the long-term prognosis of the tooth.  Early detection is important, as treatment outcomes are often dependent on the extent of resorptive change.  Understanding the biological processes underlying resorption helps clinicians make evidence-based decisions for preservation versus extraction.

This talk will outline the key types of root resorption, diagnostic features, and treatment approaches relevant to general dental practice.

Regenerative Endodontics:  This lecture will introduce the principles and clinical applications of regenerative endodontics as a biologically based alternative to apexification.  Attendees will learn about current treatment protocols, case selection, clinical outcomes, and the future potential of regenerative therapies in endodontics.

Branch meeting sponsor:

About our speakers:

Dr Howard Chao:  Howard completed his Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) from the University of Otago, graduating with first class honours, and was awarded a Gold Medal in Clinical Dentistry and the Honours Research Prize. After graduation, he practised as a general dentist in Auckland. During this time he developed an interest in Endodontics and later returned to Dunedin for his Clinical Doctorate (DClinDent). He was awarded the University of Otago Doctoral Scholarship throughout his three years of specialist training. His honours dissertation looked at the interpretation of dental imaging in Endodontics and his doctoral thesis investigated the effects of hyperglycaemia on the calcification within the human dental pulp. He currently practices full time at Endocentral and teaches final year BDS students at the Auckland Dental school on a Friday afternoon. 

Dr Sara Jardine:  Sara completed her undergraduate degree in dentistry at the University of Otago in 1985. After working in New Zealand for three years she headed overseas to the UK. During this time, she undertook specialist training in endodontics and completed her Masters with distinction from the Eastman Institute in 1997.  After taking up a part time clinical lecturing position at the Eastman, as well as working in private practice in London, she returned to New Zealand and setup a specialist endodontic practice in 1999 in central Auckland. This practice moved some years ago to its present location in Greenlane.  When not doing endodontics Sara spends her time being a mum to three boys, walking two energetic foxies and trying to grow lots of tomatoes.