Dr. Karina Leiva, Endodontist

Dr. Karina Leiva, Endodontist Dental professional since 2009, proudly servicing our community in the specialty of Endodontics.

Happy holidays from our wonderful working family to yours! 🎁🎄🕎
12/14/2025

Happy holidays from our wonderful working family to yours! 🎁🎄🕎

When to send to the endodontist? When you don’t see a continuous canal to apex. It’s likely a deep split! It was 5 mm sh...
12/07/2025

When to send to the endodontist? When you don’t see a continuous canal to apex. It’s likely a deep split! It was 5 mm short from the working lenght. Sometimes a premolar represents a bigger challenge than a molar! This one made me sweat 😅. A fiber post placed. Swipe ➡️ to see the details ❤️🦷

Hi pals! 👋 This case may seem routine at first glance… but it was anything but routine. As we all know, we treat patient...
11/16/2025

Hi pals! 👋 This case may seem routine at first glance… but it was anything but routine. As we all know, we treat patients, not just teeth. Slide to see detailed pics ➡️

This patient came to our office in tears with severe pain on tooth #15. She was 25 weeks pregnant, struggling with TMJ issues, and had significant dental anxiety. When I first reviewed the CBCT and saw those long, complex roots, my first thought was: “Oh boy…”

After discussing all options in detail, we decided the safest and fastest way to relieve her pain was to perform an urgent pulpectomy. Thankfully, her discomfort resolved immediately.

Once she delivered her baby, we completed the root canal treatment using oral sedation and nitrous oxide to help manage her anxiety. The roots measured 23 mm, and I had to constantly “recheck and open” while working with the rotary files… but we made it through. All canals treated beautifully, including a tiny MB2.

A challenging case from start to finish — but incredibly rewarding to help a patient in such a vulnerable moment. ❤️ Endodontics perform with care and love.

Vertical root fracture… or not? 🤔 swipe ➡️ for detailed pictures.Tooth #14 presented with a classic “J-shaped” lesion o...
10/27/2025

Vertical root fracture… or not? 🤔 swipe ➡️ for detailed pictures.
Tooth #14 presented with a classic “J-shaped” lesion on the mesial root — but notice how the cervical cortical bone ring remained intact 👀

With motivated patients, I always consider exploration under the microscope before extraction. Once the restoration was fully removed, I found a crack on the preparation floor — but interestingly, no fracture in the pulpal floor or within any canal.

I treated this case in two visits 🦷
💧 GentleWave was performed on the first appointment (with drainage of pus), followed by intracanal medication.
When the patient returned, they were asymptomatic 🙌

Take a look at that MB2 canal — beautifully curved and completely independent from MB! It wasn’t even visible in the CBCT. Endodontics perform with ❤️

Do you need root canals with post and cores? Not a problem! My years of general dentistry gave me the ability to do endo...
10/25/2025

Do you need root canals with post and cores? Not a problem! My years of general dentistry gave me the ability to do endo-restorative cases! 👩🏻‍⚕️

This case involved deeply decayed upper premolars.
🦷 Step-by-step treatment:
1️⃣ Removal of extensive decay
2️⃣ Core build-up
3️⃣ Re-access and root canal therapy
4️⃣ GentleWave disinfection
5️⃣ Obturation
6️⃣ Post space preparation and fiber post cementation
7️⃣ Final core build-up

The patient was very pleased with the outcome and was able to return to his overseas job just a few days later — pain-free and smiling again.

✨ Another Apicoectomy Success Story!This case involved a maxillary central incisor ( #8) with a failing root canal treat...
09/02/2025

✨ Another Apicoectomy Success Story!

This case involved a maxillary central incisor ( #8) with a failing root canal treatment performed just 6 months earlier. The patient presented with a lateral radiolucency, raising my suspicion of an untreated lateral canal.

We proceeded with a diagnostic apicoectomy, and during surgery I identified a very distinct lateral exit. Both the apex and the lateral canal were thoroughly cleaned with ultrasonics and sealed with BC Putty (MTA).

👉 The result: 4 months later, the lesion had nearly disappeared. A great example of how endodontic microsurgery can preserve natural teeth that might otherwise be lost. 🦷✨

🦷 Non-Restorable Cracks in Teeth. For my fellow general dentists 👩‍⚕️👨‍⚕️Not every cracked tooth can be saved.When a fra...
08/31/2025

🦷 Non-Restorable Cracks in Teeth. For my fellow general dentists 👩‍⚕️👨‍⚕️

Not every cracked tooth can be saved.
When a fracture extends below the gum line or into the root, the tooth becomes non-restorable. Under the microscope we can clearly see these hidden cracks, which often lead to bone loss and persistent infection.
The pictures here show fractures running from mesial to distal margial ridges and running over the pulpal floor, which means that the tooth is splitted in 2 halves. However, if you diagnose this early, the crack can be limited up to the vertical walls of the coronal part of the tooth only. If so, the tooth is still restorable after a RCT.

⚠️ Key takeaway: Early diagnosis under magnification is critical—if you notice pain on biting, sensitivity, or visible lines on a tooth, seek evaluation promptly.

Hi 👋 all!!! This case wasn’t the most complex one, but what caught my attention was how the bone loss extension and shap...
08/31/2025

Hi 👋 all!!!

This case wasn’t the most complex one, but what caught my attention was how the bone loss extension and shape around the root made me suspect the presence of a secondary canal. Root Canal Treatment on #20

👉 Cleaning & Shaping completed up to 30.04 Vortex Blue
👉 For this one Irrigation activated with EndoActivator:
• 60 seconds with EDTA
• 60 seconds with NaOCl
👉 Obturation with BC Sealer and hydraulic condensation of gutta-percha

The highlight of this case: the lateral puffs toward the bone defect confirmed my clinical suspicion. 🔬

✨ Fellow colleagues, have you ever detected an extra canal thanks to the bone pattern on the radiograph?

Apicoectomy works! Sometimes we think the solution is an implant… nooo! Implant is great when there’s no more options b...
08/13/2025

Apicoectomy works! Sometimes we think the solution is an implant… nooo! Implant is great when there’s no more options but keeping your own tooth 🦷 when possible is better!! This is a case with its respective follow up after a year. Pt is totally asymptomatic. Happy patient=happy me!

🔬🦷 True 4-hands Endodontics at its finest.Every procedure I perform is with the assistance of one of my trusted dental a...
08/01/2025

🔬🦷 True 4-hands Endodontics at its finest.
Every procedure I perform is with the assistance of one of my trusted dental assistant—side by side, under the microscope, with precision and teamwork.

This isn’t just “help”—it’s a synchronized dance of focus, technique, and experience.
With dual microscopes, we both see what matters most: your tooth’s health and long-term success. ❤️🦷

👋 A nice case to share! Today, this young 18 y/o patient came for evaluation of a horizontal root fracture at the mid r...
07/15/2025

👋 A nice case to share! Today, this young 18 y/o patient came for evaluation of a horizontal root fracture at the mid root level of teeth #8 and 9. The patient had a car accident 9 months ago. Today’s radiographs show a favorable connective tissue healing. The teeth 🦷 has been stabilized by fibrous tissue at the fracture line, the pulp remains vital, and the tooth can often be maintained functionally and esthetically for years with minimal or no intervention beyond monitoring.
• If the pulp is vital and there are no symptoms, no intervention may be required—just follow-up.
• If pulp necrosis develops, typically only the coronal segment requires root canal therapy.

🎉 Celebrating another lap around the sun!Grateful for another year of growth, learning, and connecting with amazing peop...
07/12/2025

🎉 Celebrating another lap around the sun!
Grateful for another year of growth, learning, and connecting with amazing people in this journey. Thanks to everyone who’s been part of it — patients 🦷 , students, colleagues 👩🏻‍⚕️🧑🏼‍⚕️, and family. ¡Vamos por más! 💼🦷🎂

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Plantation, FL

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Monday 8:30am - 5pm
Tuesday 8:30am - 5pm
Wednesday 8:30am - 5pm
Friday 8:30am - 5pm

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+19544384282

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