Today’s advanced endodontic treatments and materials can give you a healthier, more complete smile that can last you a lifetime!

Microscopic endodontics — root canal treatment performed under a surgical operating microscope — is carried out in Beirut by Dr. Habib Zarifeh, Head of Oral Surgery at CMC Beirut (Clemenceau Medical Center, affiliated with Johns Hopkins International) and holder of an MSc in Laser Dentistry from RWTH Aachen University, Germany. Combining high-magnification microscopy with laser disinfection, he treats the most complex cases — failed root canals, hidden canals, and teeth other dentists consider hopeless — with a precision the naked eye cannot match.

Until recently, endodontic therapy was performed using tactile sensitivity, and the only way to see inside the root canal system was to take a radiograph.

Perform endodontic therapy entailed ‘‘working blind,’’ that is, most of the effort was taken using only tactile skills with minimum visual information available.

The presence of a problem (a ledge, a perforation, a blockage, a broken instrument) was only ‘‘felt,’’ and the clinical management of the problem was never predictable and depended on happenstance. Therefore, the success of the treatment was doubtful till the evolution of micro-endodontic.

These developments have improved the precision with which endodontic is performed. These advances have enabled clinicians to complete procedures that were once considered impossible or that could be performed only by talented or lucky clinicians.

The most important revolution has been the introduction and widespread adoption of the operating microscope (OM).

OMs have been used for decades in other medical disciplines: ophthalmology, neurosurgery, reconstructive surgery, otorhinolaryngology, and vascular surgery.

Its introduction into dentistry in the last 15 years, particularly in endodontics, has revolutionized how endodontics is practiced worldwide.

In micro endodontics, the microscope’s magnification and clarity allow the examination of the pulpal floor and root canals in such minute detail that those details previously unnoticed suddenly become very obvious. In combination with the microscope, ultrasonic tips allow dentists to locate and treat a missed second mesiobuccal canal in an upper molar or retrieve separated instruments with a higher level of certainty and ease. The lucky is YOU nowadays.

Frequently Asked Questions

It's not a smile. It's a signature.

What is microscopic endodontics?

Microscopic endodontics is root canal treatment performed under a high-powered surgical operating microscope. The magnification and lighting let the dentist see the pulp floor and root canals in fine detail — locating canals, cracks, and blockages invisible to the naked eye — so treatment is far more precise and predictable.

How is microscopic endodontics different from a normal root canal?

A conventional root canal is largely done by feel, guided only by X-rays. Under the microscope, Dr. Habib Zarifeh can see inside the tooth, find hidden canals such as the second mesiobuccal canal in upper molars, and remove infection completely — which raises success rates and saves teeth that would otherwise be lost.

What is laser endodontics?

Laser endodontics uses laser energy to disinfect the root canal system more thoroughly than rinsing alone, reaching bacteria deep inside the canal walls. Combined with microscope-guided treatment, it makes the procedure cleaner, more comfortable, and more likely to succeed.

Is microscopic root canal treatment painful?

No. The procedure is carried out under local anesthesia and is generally no more uncomfortable than a routine filling. Because the microscope allows precise, thorough cleaning, it often relieves the pain that brought the patient in.

Can a microscope save a tooth another dentist said must be extracted?

Often, yes. Many teeth declared hopeless — failed previous root canals, separated instruments, missed canals, or perforations — can be retreated successfully under the microscope. Dr. Habib Zarifeh routinely manages these complex retreatment cases.

Who performs microscopic endodontics in Lebanon?

Dr. Habib Zarifeh performs microscopic and laser endodontics in Beirut, Lebanon. He is Head of Oral Surgery at CMC Beirut (Johns Hopkins International affiliated, JCI accredited) and holds an MSc in Laser Dentistry from RWTH Aachen University, Germany.

Have a painful or “hopeless” tooth? Send your X-ray on WhatsApp +961 3 739 783 for Dr. Habib Zarifeh’s opinion.