Root canal treatments

Among the many dental treatments offered in clinics, root canal treatment seems to be the most widely known. Almost everyone has heard of this treatment, and many will undergo it at least once. Root canal treatment is, therefore, a very common treatment, and we should all learn more about it.

What are the signs that root canal treatment is needed?

Our teeth are actually made up of three layers:

1. The Dental enamel- the outermost layer, the one visible to the eye. Its function is to protect the tooth from the outside.

2. Dentin – connective tissue that surrounds the entire tooth, from the tip to the root.

3. The pulp of the tooth – the inner and most sensitive part of the tooth, where many blood vessels and nerves are situated.

Most of the time ‘holes’ in the tooth (caries) which require a routine filling, will be formed in the dental enamel. By cleaning these holes of bacteria and filling them with special filling material, the tooth will return to full function. However, the treatment of caries that penetrates the pulp of a tooth will be different.

When the pulp of a tooth is damaged, its blood vessels and nerves are exposed, causing strong pain. It is only the beginning of a process that will damage the tooth if not treated as soon as possible. If bacteria are not treated in a timely manner, they will infect the tooth’s root and then penetrate the jaw bone, causing serious infection and damage to the entire oral cavity.

What is the procedure for root canal treatment?

As mentioned, infection and penetration of bacteria into the tooth pulp require immediate treatment. If in the past this condition could only be treated by extraction, today the dentist has another option – root canal treatment (endodontic treatment). By treating the root canal, inflammation, and bacteria are eradicated and the infection is prevented from spreading.

Identifying the problem

Before any treatment can begin, the patient will undergo a series of imaging tests that allow the doctor to determine the extent and nature of the damage. A dentist will take additional photographs as necessary in order to get a complete picture of the root canal anatomy.

Tooth root canal cleaning

What is the actual mechanism behind this? During root canal treatments, the dentist uses appropriate equipment to clean the canals of bacteria accumulation. In today’s world, dentists use special devices that allow them to verify that they’ve reached the area of inflammation (the root’s end). Devices such as these ensure maximum accuracy and increase success rates, thus improving treatment efficiency.

Root canal filling and sealing

Once the inside of the tooth and the root canals are completely cleaned, a special sealing material is inserted into the space. The dentist will decide how to proceed based on the body’s response. When the procedure is performed in two stages, the dentist will clean the canals and place a special material inside, followed by a temporary crown.

When the patient returns to the clinic a few weeks later, the final seal of the root canals will be performed, and the tooth may then be restored with a crown or filling.

It is important to remember that the tooth is more susceptible to breakage at the end of treatment because of its sensitive state. It is, therefore, imperative that the final restoration of the tooth takes place as soon as possible.

The effectiveness of root canal treatments

Despite their effectiveness, root canal treatments may need to be repeated if bacteria are not properly removed from the tooth (also known as repeated root canal treatment). In cases where a repeated root canal treatment is unsuccessful or the tooth has a normal crown, excision of the root tip is usually recommended – a surgical procedure that involves removing inflammation directly from the root tip. After this procedure, the root tip is removed.

In light of these facts, it is important to have a skilled root canal dentist performing the procedure. A treatment performed by a root canal specialist will have the highest chance of success.