Root canal treatment

In many cases, a tooth can be saved despite its problems – root canal treatment can offer significant help. But what exactly does this procedure entail and how does it work?

Root canal treatment

Root canal treatment is often an excellent method for a dentist to save a tooth

  • Even an inflamed tooth
  • Significantly deteriorated tooth as well
  • Infection primarily develops in the tooth due to decay
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But how does the problem develop?

Within the inner part of the tooth lies a small chamber containing the tooth’s blood vessels and nerves, which extend into the root and branch into the bone structure. If these nerves and vessels are damaged, the tooth may react with inflammation or simply die off.

In such cases, bacteria take over the area, potentially affecting the bone surrounding the tooth root. This leads to inflammation of the tooth root.

Under what circumstances does this occur?

Initially, one might not notice what’s happening within the tooth. A cavity might go unnoticed for a long time without causing any discomfort. However, the decay progresses internally, nearing the tooth pulp, which eventually becomes inflamed.

It’s also common for problems to arise beneath a larger filling over an extended period. The tooth might die off on its own, and the inflammation becomes visible on X-rays.

There are situations where root canal treatment becomes necessary during the creation of a tooth restoration or when treating a focal infection to ensure long-term stability.

The advancement in technology plays a significant role in saving teeth. Previously, dentists couldn’t appropriately address issues that can now be resolved with root canal treatment due to a lack of knowledge and tools. Consequently, extractions were more common, causing inconvenience.

Is root canal treatment painful?

Although many people fear it, root canal treatment is not considered an excessively intolerable procedure. In some cases, however, it may be necessary for the patient to attend multiple dental sessions, as it takes several appointments to achieve the desired result.

The need for multiple treatments depends on factors such as the number of tooth roots and the number of canals within them. Additionally, the individual’s anatomy cannot be ignored, as it also plays a role in determining the number of sessions required. The position of the tooth, the severity of inflammation, and other factors all influence the overall treatment plan.

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Root canal treatment

How long does a root canal-treated tooth last?

As mentioned before, a tooth can last even for decades if it has been properly root canal treated. However, we cannot be entirely certain how long it will endure. This largely depends on the factors that led to the need for root canal treatment.

  • According to experience, root canal treatment is successful in more than 90 percent of cases.
  • A crown significantly contributes to extending the lifespan of a tooth
  • It is important for us to pay attention to proper oral hygiene and tooth cleaning
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Root canal treatment

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In many cases, a tooth can be saved despite its problems – root canal treatment can offer significant help. But what exactly does this procedure entail and how does it work?

Root canal treatment often serves as an excellent method for a dentist to save a tooth. Even if it’s inflamed or significantly decayed, it may not necessarily need to be extracted; root canal treatment can preserve it for years.

The infection primarily arises within the tooth due to decay. Root canal treatment aims to eliminate this infection, preserving the tooth’s structure and even utilizing the root. This helps restore the tooth’s function without affecting its appearance.

Within the inner part of the tooth lies a small chamber containing the tooth’s blood vessels and nerves, which extend into the root and branch into the bone structure. If these nerves and vessels are damaged, the tooth may react with inflammation or simply die off.

In such cases, bacteria take over the area, potentially affecting the bone surrounding the tooth root. This leads to inflammation of the tooth root.

Initially, one might not notice what’s happening within the tooth. A cavity might go unnoticed for a long time without causing any discomfort. However, the decay progresses internally, nearing the tooth pulp, which eventually becomes inflamed.

It’s also common for problems to arise beneath a larger filling over an extended period. The tooth might die off on its own, and the inflammation becomes visible on X-rays.

There are situations where root canal treatment becomes necessary during the creation of a tooth restoration or when treating a focal infection to ensure long-term stability.

The advancement in technology plays a significant role in saving teeth. Previously, dentists couldn’t appropriately address issues that can now be resolved with root canal treatment due to a lack of knowledge and tools. Consequently, extractions were more common, causing inconvenience.

Surprisingly, a dead tooth can be symptomless. It might not cause discomfort in all cases, but during a routine check-up, a dentist can identify it.

However, the chronic form of tooth root inflammation can only be tolerated for a while. Even if the symptoms are not severe, the inflammation can create a focal point in the body. Bacteria can enter the bloodstream, potentially leading to other diseases.

Symptoms of tooth root inflammation:

When the tooth pulp becomes inflamed, it throbs and produces intense pain, usually becoming more severe after evening or bedtime.

Initially, the tooth might react sensitively to cold food or drinks.

Even if the pain subsides after a few days, it’s essential to treat the tooth as it won’t heal on its own. Ignoring the issue can lead to bone damage around the tooth root.

Root canal treatment can preserve the tooth if there’s enough remaining healthy tooth material for reconstruction.

The dentist administers an anesthetic to numb the patient.

They remove all damaged tooth material and reconstruct the tooth after the treatment.

The dentist opens the tooth cavity to locate the entrances of the root canals. They insert thin instruments to confirm their length, which can also be seen on X-rays.

The dentist cleans and disinfects the canals.

If further treatment is required, they place medication in the treated tooth and seal it temporarily.

Finally, root canal filling material is placed in the cleaned and widened canals.

Once the root filling is complete, the tooth’s crown portion is restored with a post and core or an onlay. It’s necessary to protect the root-treated tooth from breakage and restore its function – this is the purpose of the treatment.

Usually, if the case is relatively straightforward, a root-treated tooth can be restored in 1-2 visits. If the situation is more complicated, several visits to the dentist might be necessary.

As mentioned earlier, an onlay or post and core are necessary for tooth restoration. But what advantages do they offer? Both onlays and crowns cover the tooth from the chewing surface side, protecting it from breakage. However, using onlays and crowns requires more tooth material to be removed compared to fillings, which might not be necessary if there’s sufficient remaining tooth material during the procedure.

However, in many cases, the former solution is necessary because deep decay prompted the need for root canal treatment, significantly damaging the tooth structure.

Generally, patients often experience some pain after root canal treatment, but it can be adequately managed with painkillers. If the tooth is sealed after root canal filling, it might remain sensitive for 1-2 days.

If a patient continues to experience pain days later, it’s crucial to consult the dentist. In such cases, the dentist examines the tooth and takes X-rays to determine if there’s a problem and if the tooth can indeed be saved.

If a root-treated tooth is inflamed but salvageable or wasn’t adequately treated earlier, the root filling can be replaced, and the pain can subside.

As mentioned earlier, a properly treated tooth can last for many years. However, its longevity depends significantly on what led to the need for root canal treatment and the individual’s anatomy.

Experience shows that root canal treatment is successful in over 90% of cases when dentists apply the appropriate techniques. Nevertheless, even with everything done correctly, there might be instances where the tooth cannot be restored, leading to eventual extraction.

If root canal treatment is unsuccessful, symptoms might persist months after the procedure. It’s also possible that inflammation around the bone surrounding the root persists.

There are several reasons for this. Insufficient exposure of the root canal or a crack in the root can trigger it. Bacteria might persist, even if the dentist performed all procedures correctly.

Crowning significantly aids in extending the tooth’s lifespan. Additionally, it’s crucial to focus on proper oral hygiene, regular cleanings, and, of course, regular dental check-ups.