Endodontics
Endodontics is a field of dentistry that deals with the tooth pulp and tissues of the root. Teeth may have 1 to 4 conduits, requiring the filling of all channels present in the tooth during treatment. The pulp (which has nerves and other soft tissues) can be affected by deep caries, bite trauma, fractures and other complications. These complications are often impossible to be repair by the body.
If the pulp becomes inflamed or infected you need root canal treatment
Root Canal Treatment
The most common procedure done in endodontic is root canal treatment. In root canal treatment the affected pulp is removed and the canal cleaned and disinfected. In most cases it is necessary to place prosthesis (crown complete), so there’s no tooth fracture after the channel is done. The intense chewing on the treated tooth should be avoided until the prosthesis is made. After finishing the root canal it should be restored immediately so there is no growth of bacteria contaminating the channel again, avoiding the need for retreatment of the same.
Before and after treatment
Soon after – 3 months latter
Dental isolation for treatment / Tooth with treatment finalizedFrequently asked questions about root canal treatment:
The endodontic treatment saves the tooth that might be indicated for extraction. Saving your natural teeth is possible and is the best option. Occasionally, the tooth can not be saved by root canal treatment. Root canal treatment can be done only if the channels can be accessed properly cleaned and sealed. The tooth needs to have sufficient bone support for treatment.
It usually lasts one session. But sometimes cases with complications can be completed in 2 or 3 sessions.
With the proper restoration of the tooth and oral care such as brushing, flossing and use of regular clinic visits it can last long. After finishing the root canal treatment, professionals usually recommend restoration of the tooth, and most often recommends prostheses to prevent future fractures.
Root canal treatment does not hurt, in fact, it relieves pain. When the patient has a severe toothache, he is experiencing inflammation and damaging the tissue around the tooth. Root canal therapy removes the causes, solving the problem of pain that the patient feels.
The cleaning of the channels can result in mild discomfort after treatment, requiring prescription of painkillers. Usually the discomfort will decrease gradually in the following days.
Root canal therapy has more than 90% success rate in general. But problems can occur if:
– The treated tooth become decayed.
– The tooth is restored or the restoration fails.
– The tooth breakr.
