Dr. Karina Leiva, Endodontist

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

✨ 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! 💼🦷🎂

Quick lunchtime case! 🥗RCT on #30Dx: Symptomatic Irreversible Pulpitis / Normal PeriapexWhat made this case interesting...
05/14/2025

Quick lunchtime case! 🥗

RCT on #30
Dx: Symptomatic Irreversible Pulpitis / Normal Periapex

What made this case interesting? One of the mesial canals was a full 2.5 mm longer than the others — with no angulation on the file! 🤯 At first, I doubted my apex locator, but I decided to trust it — and the fill landed right on point ✅

I loved the anatomy here: 4 distinct canals with 4 separate points of exit 🦷➡️ Such a beautiful reminder of why I love endo!

Hi everyone! 👋This was a pretty straightforward -unusual- case, but I just loved the final shapes and thought it was wor...
05/09/2025

Hi everyone! 👋
This was a pretty straightforward -unusual- case, but I just loved the final shapes and thought it was worth sharing! 🦷✨

Tooth #31 came in with a diagnosis of SIP/SAP 🔥 and was treated following our usual protocol:
✔️ GentleWave procedure 🌊
✔️ Obturation with gutta-percha and BC Sealer 🧴

What makes this case stand out? The importance of CBCT! 📸
While the PA looked quite calcified ⚪️ and unclear, the CBCT revealed beautifully patent canals 🌀 — a great reminder that appearances can be deceiving.

Always trust but verify… with 3D imaging 🧠!

Hi people!A quick lunchtime post about a case referred for RCT on #15.Dx: Previously initiated root canal treatment, Sy...
05/05/2025

Hi people!
A quick lunchtime post about a case referred for RCT on #15.
Dx: Previously initiated root canal treatment, Symptomatic Apical Periodontitis.

Tx: Usual start, 4 canals located ✅
Separated instrument located in the MB canal at mid root third ⚙️ As per referral, it was 4 mm of an SX. Platform created around broken instrument ⚒️ US to loosen it 🔊. Bouncing of the piece due to the nature of NiTi materials. Cowboy loop pen to remove fractured instrument 🤠 after 2 attempts… GentleWave procedure done 💧
Apically gauged, matched GP cones 📏
BC Sealer Hi Flow + Hydraulic condensation 🦷✨
Phew! This one made me sweat 😅

de nervio de conducto

Hello gang! 👋Quick lunchtime case share 🦷🦷 Tooth #31🦠 Dx: SIP/SAP🧵 PD: 6 mm on distal👑 Recent crown placed🌀 The twist?D...
05/04/2025

Hello gang! 👋
Quick lunchtime case share 🦷

🦷 Tooth #31
🦠 Dx: SIP/SAP
🧵 PD: 6 mm on distal
👑 Recent crown placed

🌀 The twist?
Double sharp curvature on both X & Y axes 😅
Reminded me of a soccer player’s legs ⚽️

🛠️ Treatment Highlights:
• Navigated 2 sharp curves with utmost care
• GentleWave® 🌊 procedure performed 💧
• Cautious obturation—no puffs wanted! 🚫💨 The infra-alveolar nerve is extremely close to the root tips.

Outcome:
Cleaned, sealed, and ready for healing! ✅
Endodontics done with care and love ❤️
⸻

The tooth anatomy 🦷 never stops 🛑surprising me!Today’s case: Patient came in with pain on #3 — diagnosis: SIP/SAP.The c...
04/28/2025

The tooth anatomy 🦷 never stops 🛑surprising me!
Today’s case: Patient came in with pain on #3 — diagnosis: SIP/SAP.

The canals looked very sclerotic (nothing new in our practice!), but persistence pays off. Found the MB2!
While hand filing ✋ (yes, old-school hand filing for calcified canals — saves a lot of trouble later!), I noticed MB2 deviated in a different direction 🧭 from MB.

Performed GentleWave procedure 🌊, followed by obturation with BC sealer and gutta-percha via hydraulic condensation.

When I took the final X-ray… voilà!🍀
The MB2 had a different and lateral POE (point of exit)!

Happy patient 😁, happy doctor!👩‍⚕️

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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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