Root Canal Treatment – Endodontics
Healthy teeth are important for the health of our body. When teeth are regularly maintained and cleaned, problems such as tartar, discoloration and decay do not occur. In case of these, the most serious consequence is tooth decay.
When the decay in the tooth approaches the living tissue consisting of vessels and nerves inside the tooth over time, the acids formed by the bacteria causing the decay affect this tissue, the pulp, and if left untreated, it kills the pulp. If the pulp is damaged in such a way that it cannot heal, the treatment method applied is called root canal treatment – endodontics.
Preventive Dental Treatment
The aim of this treatment method, also referred to as endodontics, is to clean a tooth whose health has deteriorated and keep it in the mouth. Thanks to this treatment method, which is based on removing the nerves inside the tooth and filling the expanded canals after purifying them from bacteria, aesthetic and functional continuity of the tooth is ensured.
By preventing tooth loss, those who have root canal treatment both prevent different treatments that will be financially difficult for the person and get rid of longer and painful methods of treatment.
Root Canal Treatment – How is Endodontics Performed?
The first stage of root canal treatment begins with anesthesia to make the treatment painless. Then the decay is cleaned and diseased nerve and tissue residues in the pulp are removed.The canals expanded up to the root tip are filled with appropriate filling materials. If the treatment is to be completed in more than one session, a temporary filling is applied to the tooth between sessions.
Upon completion of the treatment, the tooth is renewed with filling or coating depending on
the loss of material in the tooth. Those who have root
canal treatment may have rare complaints such as pain or facial swelling between treatment sessions. The source of such complaints is the reaction caused by bacteria and is corrected by the dressings your doctor will make. Dressing intervals should not be extended more than necessary. Otherwise, new bacteria may form.
What to Consider in Root Canal Treatment?
- Due to the numbness caused by the local anesthesia applied during the treatment, areas such as the tongue, lips or inner cheek may be bitten without being aware of it. For this reason, it is not right to eat or drink extremely hot or cold drinks while under anesthesia.
- Since there is a temporary filling in the tooth between root canal treatment sessions, it is not right to use your tooth to eat hard foods. It should not be forgotten that the tooth is fragile until the permanent restoration is made on it. In fact, it is necessary to be careful not to exert external force on the treated tooth.
- Temporary fillings made during treatment are easy to wear and break even when they harden. While these materials are broken, if the surrounding tooth tissue is very thin, it is better to use the other part of the jaw during the treatment, as it can also break the tooth.
- Many patients whose pain disappears after temporary filling may leave the treatment unfinished. The fact that the pain is gone does not mean that the treatment is completed. This negligence causes an unfinished tooth to be extracted after a few months. For this reason, the treatment process should be completed without
interruption. - The duration of root canal treatment varies according to the size of the problem in the tooth. Sometimes it can be completed in a single session, sometimes many sessions may be required.
- The criterion for completion of the treatment is to cure the infection in the tooth. The treatment continues until the healing of the tissues is complete. This process takes 2-3 sessions on average.
- Teeth that have undergone root canal treatment are more fragile than other teeth because they lose their vitality. For this reason, after the treatment process is completed, it is important to restore the root canal treatment with an application such as porcelain crown, porcelain filling, which your dentist will determine for you, so that you can use your tooth for many years.
Will I Feel Pain During Root Canal Treatment?
One of the most common concerns of those who have root canal treatment is how painful the process will be. Thanks to the local anesthesia applied before the treatment, pain is not felt. The difference from a simple filling is that the treatment process is a little longer.
After the treatment is over, there may be pain when pressed on the tooth as the degeneration in the natural tissues will take a few days. A medication with painkillers and anti-edema properties recommended by the physician will eliminate this complaint.
Another problem that may occur after treatment is swelling on the face or in the area where the tooth is located. In this case, you can solve the problem by using an antibiotic with the guidance of your physician.
After Root Canal Treatment
The person who has root canal treatment may feel a height in the permanent filling at the end of the treatment. In this case, he/she should contact the physician and ask for the problem in the filling to be eliminated. Fillings in teeth that have undergone root canal treatment may wear out over time. Although it is worn, it is not a problem if it is at the base of the tooth and covers the canals. However, if a large part of it is worn and does not cover the canals, the filling must be renewed. Otherwise, the tooth may be lost completely.
Enjoy Your Natural Teeth for Many Years
Removing a decayed tooth is a very easy procedure. The important thing is that a person who has had a successful root canal treatment can use the tooth for many years. Even if the tooth remaining in the mouth after root canal treatment is dead, at least it will help you chew your own tooth and its aesthetics will not deteriorate.
Dental Hygiene is Important
It should not be forgotten that the risk of decay or fracture of a treated tooth is higher than that of an intact tooth. However, if measures are taken to prevent the treated tooth from decaying again, the root canal treated tooth can remain in the mouth even for a lifetime. The most important measure that can be taken is to apply the cleaning and care applied to other teeth to the treated teeth. In addition, regular medical check-ups are another precautionary measure that should be taken.