Root canal treatment (Endodontics) is generally seen as a painful application, so most patients delay the treatment process. With modern techniques, root canals are treated relatively painlessly after one or two sessions.
Contrary to the general opinion, patients do not experience pain during root canal treatment. In cases where pain is felt, it can be said that the pain is caused by an infection in the area. The reason for root canal treatment is to eliminate the pain that bothers the patients. Postponing the treatment process by patients may cause infection in the tissues located in the root of the tooth. Tooth and bone loss may occur due to infection. So, what is root canal treatment, how is root canal treatment done?
What is Root Canal Treatment?
Root canal treatment is also known as endodontic treatment. It refers to cleaning the tooth by removing the damaged part or infected pulp of a tooth and then closing it with a refill. The pulp, located in the innermost part of the tooth, can be thought of as a soft core-like structure. In the pulp extending to the root tip of the teeth; blood vessels, nerves, and connective tissue.
If the tooth is cracked or deeply decayed after any impact, bacteria enter the pulp and multiply there. If such a condition is left untreated, the bacteria can cause a serious infection or tooth abscess and can cause tooth or bone loss with pulp death. In this case, root canal treatment is applied to the decayed or cracked tooth and the tooth is restored.
In Which Situations Should Root Canal Treatment Be Applied?
Root canal treatment symptoms include deep cavities and cracks in the dental bone. In cases where the tooth is damaged to such an extent that it cannot be healed, the tooth is saved by removing the pulp part. For this reason, the greatest benefit of endodontic treatment is to save the dead tooth and ensure that the tooth does not lose its bone structure. Conditions that require root canal treatment are as follows.
- Permanent tooth sensitivity to hot or cold
- Swelling of the face and neck
- Pain when biting or chewing
- Swelling Of the Gums
- Formation of acne-like sores on the gums
- Deep Decays
- Darkened Gums
- Reflected toothache
- Cracked Teeth
How is root canal treatment made?
Goals of endodontic treatment; There are four types: elimination of infection and decays, shaping of tooth canals, filling of canals and re-functionalizing the tooth. Depending on the condition of the tooth, the treatment takes one or two sessions. The procedure followed during the endodontic treatment varies according to the tooth damage. Endodontic treatment generally includes the following steps.
- The dentist takes an X-ray to examine the root structure of the tooth and observe for signs of infection. In this way, the damage to the tooth is reviewed. After these procedures, it is decided whether endodontic treatment is needed.
- If the dental pulp is seriously damaged, root canal treatment is started.
- If an abscess is formed in the tooth structure, local anesthesia is applied before the treatment.
- The first stage of root canal treatment is the meticulous removal of the pulp in the tooth. After the pulp is removed, the dentist determines how long the procedure in the root canal will take.
- Root canals are reshaped and cleaned with appropriately sized apparatus.
- One session of endodontic treatment takes approximately 45 minutes. After the necessary procedures are performed, a minimum of 2 x-rays of the tooth are taken. If the dentist thinks that there is a successful root canal treatment, he fills the canal with a permanent material after the disinfection process so that the canals are not affected by contamination.
- Dentists may choose to wait 4 to 5 days for the tooth to heal before performing a permanent filling. In such a case, the tooth cavity is filled with a temporary filling.
- In the second session, the temporary filling placed in the tooth cavity is removed with a painless procedure and permanent filling is performed. Permanent filling is done with dental paste and a substance called gutta percha . These pastes prevent leakages against external leakages into the root canal.
How Long Does Root Canal Treatment Take?
How long does root canal treatment take? The question is one of the issues that people who want to have root canal treatment wonder about. A root canal treatment can take approximately 30 to 90 minutes. In some endodontic treatments, if there is an infection, the dentist inserts medication to clean the tooth. For this reason, a week is waited for the cavity to be closed.
What Should Be Considered After Root Canal Treatment?
- During root canal treatment, dental nerves are removed along with the inflamed tissue. Therefore, there is no question of the tooth being affected by external stimuli. However, especially in cases where pain or infection is observed before the procedure, there is a possibility that the tooth may be sensitive due to tissue inflammation after the treatment. This condition can generally be alleviated with painkillers prescribed by the dentist.
- After the treatment, nothing should be eaten for a minimum of 3 hours.
- The success rate of endodontic treatment is high. A treated tooth can be used for a lifetime when it is routinely cared for.
- It is important to consume less sugary foods, which are known to cause tooth decay.
- Tooth cleaning should be performed twice a day with a soft-bristled toothbrush and once with dental floss.
- Care should be taken to have a general dental examination at least twice a year.
You can visit https://megadentist.com.tr/en/ for information about root canal treatment.
