Cleanliness, Confirmed: How Endocator® Brings Objectivity to Root Canal Treatment
Insights from Dr. Ryan M. Walsh, DDS, MS
Despite advances in endodontic instruments, materials, and irrigation solutions, the fundamental steps of root canal therapy have remained largely unchanged for decades: access, shape, disinfect, and obturate. Yet woven into every successful case is one persistent challenge—verifying true canal cleanliness before sealing.
As Dr. Ryan Walsh explains, the difficulty lies in the fact that biological debris cannot always be seen, even under magnification or on radiographs. Until recently, clinicians had no objective way to confirm when a canal was truly clean.
That’s where Endocator® changes the equation.
FILLING THE NEED FOR OBJECTIVITY IN ENDODONTICS
“In the past, we’ve relied upon indirect measures to establish how clean a canal is,” says Dr. Walsh. “But the Endocator gives us an objective chairside measurement.”
Endocator is the first and only chairside device designed to objectively detect levels of canal cleanliness using ATP bioluminescence technology. By identifying trace amounts of adenosine triphosphate (ATP)—a marker of living cells and organic debris—Endocator reveals contamination that remains invisible to microscopes and x-rays.
The result is a numeric EndoScore™ (0–100) that provides immediate, actionable feedback.
WHAT THE ENDOSCORE™ TELLS YOU
Endocator delivers a clear, easy-to-interpret score in less than 10 seconds:
- Low score: Confirms irrigation has effectively reduced biological debris
- High score: Indicates residual contamination remains and irrigation protocols should be adjusted
“If it’s coming back with a very low score, then we know we’ve done our job irrigating and it’s as clean as we can get before sealing,” Dr. Walsh explains. “But if we’re getting a high number, it means there’s still some debris left in the canal.”
SIMPLE, FAST, AND CHAIRSIDE
One of Endocator’s most compelling advantages is how seamlessly it fits into the clinical workflow.
The process is straightforward:
- Rinse the canal with sterile water
- Aspirate the canal
- Inject the sample into the Endocator Test Swab
- Insert the swab into the device
Within seconds, the EndoScore appears—often faster than setting up an x-ray.
A CONFIDENCE BOOSTER FOR CLINICIANS AND PATIENTS
“When patients know we’re able to measure how clean their canals are before we seal them, it’s going to increase their confidence in our root canal treatment,” says Dr. Walsh.
Endocator has also helped identify clinical findings that may otherwise go unnoticed.
“I’ve had cases where the score indicated more biological debris than I was expecting,” Dr. Walsh shares. “The score would tell me there may be additional canals or possibly abscess drainage near the root tips.”
Identifying these issues before obturation can significantly reduce the risk of post-treatment complications and retreatment.
FROM ASSUMPTION TO ASSURANCE
“If we can improve our treatment with a test that takes just 10 seconds, I think we’re well on our way to serving our patients to the best of our abilities,” Dr. Walsh concludes.
Endocator represents a shift in endodontics—from assuming cleanliness to confirming it.
Cleanliness isn’t guessed. It’s confirmed.
LEARN MORE
Endocator is available through your preferred dental dealer.
For additional information, visit our Endocator landing page or contact [email protected].