Dental
Digital DentistryRoot Canal Treatment
Root canal treatment is a procedure performed to restore a tooth that has lost its vitality. Root canal treatment, performed under local anesthesia, is performed to restore the tooth after it has suffered damage due to decay or trauma.
How is root canal treatment performed?
Root canal treatment is a procedure performed to restore a tooth that has lost its vitality. Root canal treatment, performed under local anesthesia, is used to restore a tooth after it has suffered damage due to decay or trauma. Given that the replacement teeth will not be identical to natural teeth, it is best to try to preserve the original tooth in this way. Treatment can be performed in a single session or in two or three sessions. This process depends on the extent of the damage to the tooth. Early detection of dental damage will increase the success rate of root canal treatment to 100%.
What are the stages of root canal treatment?
- Local anesthesia is applied to patients who will undergo root canal treatment so that they do not feel any pain during the procedure.
- In this stage, the tooth is cleaned and the vascular and nerve tissue is accessed. Here, the diseased tissue and nerves are removed.
- The length of the root canal in the tooth is measured using a special device. The tooth is shaped from the root canal to the root apex. If the root canal is not severely damaged, it is thoroughly cleaned and widened. The enlarged canal is filled with filling material, completing the root canal treatment.
- If signs of disease are detected in the dental canal during the procedure, the canal is thoroughly cleaned and shaped. The appropriate root canal medicament is then filled. This process is monitored until the tooth is completely healed. During this time, the tooth is sealed with temporary filling materials. Once the infection is completely healed, the root canal is filled to the apex, completing the procedure.
- By placing a crown or filling on a tooth that has undergone root canal treatment, the tooth can be used in a healthy way again.
How long is the lifespan of a tooth that has received root canal treatment?
By paying due attention to oral and dental hygiene and taking the necessary precautions after root canal treatment, your tooth will continue to function for many years. By regularly visiting your dentist and taking the necessary care as recommended by your dentist, you will contribute to the longevity of your teeth. It’s important to always remember that a treated tooth is healthier than an untreated tooth. If we consider the factors that will affect the longevity of a root canal-treated tooth:
- Root canal treatment should be performed by a dentist who is an expert in this field.
- The tooth whose root canal treatment has been completed should be covered in a way that prevents any leakage.
- After root canal treatment, individuals should take care of their teeth and avoid consuming very hard foods. While these precautions are necessary for all teeth, teeth that have undergone root canal treatment and have been crowned require special care. If a tooth is fractured, decay will occur due to bacteria. Because these teeth are inanimate, they cannot receive adequate nutrition and strengthen. They are always susceptible to decay and fracture.
Root canal treatment is applied to both teeth with extensive decay and those with root infection, chronic abscesses, or acute infections. Recurrence of infection is possible in areas where root canal treatment has been performed. Therefore, extra care should be taken when eating and brushing. Therefore, brush twice a day, floss, and use mouthwash to maintain oral hygiene.
What happens if root canal treatment is not applied?
If tooth decay becomes chronic, it will negatively impact your dental health. Because the vascular and nerve tissue cannot heal, the infection caused by the decay will spread to all teeth. The infection, which spreads from the tooth root to the tissues, will affect the jawbone and cause inflammation in the area. This inflammation will cause bone loss and cyst formation in the area. Bringing the tooth to this stage will make root canal treatment more difficult and more challenging. In advanced stages, even root canal treatment will not be enough to save the tooth. Advanced decay in the tooth reacts to hot and cold with extreme pain. If a tooth decay at this stage is left untreated, even if the pain subsides, the inflammation will penetrate all the way to the bone. Therefore, root canal treatment should be performed before the existing decay progresses. Chronic decay will manifest itself with facial swelling and pain. In this case, root canal treatment will fail and will be unsuccessful. Since the result will be the loss of the tooth, you will have to have a non-natural tooth made in place of your missing tooth.
What is a dental root canal?
Beneath the outer tissues of the tooth, dentin and enamel, lies a soft connective tissue. This is the pulp tissue, which forms the living part of the tooth. It is commonly referred to as the nerve of the tooth. Dental canals are very thin and small tunnels that begin at the pulp chamber inside the top of the tooth and extend to the root apex. Depending on the tooth, there may be one or several.
How to determine if a tooth needs root canal treatment?
In cases of extensive tooth decay or trauma, bacteria can infect the tooth pulp, causing it to die or become infected. When this occurs, sensitivity to hot and cold during chewing and pressure, and pain that wakes you up at night, can occur. Pain and sensitivity can also occur without any other underlying cause. These types of toothaches are not easily relieved by painkillers.
Is root canal treatment a painful procedure and how long does it take?
Since local anesthesia is applied to patients during root canal treatment, the procedure is completed without any pain.
The duration of root canal treatment varies depending on the extent of the damage to the tooth. While some patients can complete root canal treatment in a single visit, other times multiple visits may be necessary until the tissues heal.
Why is root canal treatment performed?
Artificial teeth cannot replace the natural teeth we have. Therefore, natural teeth must be protected to the fullest extent with appropriate treatments. When a tooth loses its health, the best way to protect it is with a root canal. If the pulp, the soft layer inside the tooth that houses blood, nerves, and lymph vessels, is damaged beyond repair, it dies. This is caused by bacteria in broken or decayed teeth. These bacteria cause inflammation in the tooth’s core. If the damaged pulp is not removed, it will infect the surrounding tissues, ultimately leading to complete tooth loss.
Can a tooth with root canal treatment be saved?
The work of a tooth that has undergone root canal treatment isn’t over yet. If the tooth has had its root canals filled, a standard filling is required. If there is significant material loss, a porcelain filling is required to support the remaining tooth walls and prevent the remaining tooth from breaking later. If the tooth has no supporting wall left, a post supported by the root canal must be placed, followed by a crown. These procedures are performed to ensure the tooth remains in its original state.
What are the risks and complications of root canal treatment?
Root canal treatment, performed properly and according to the rules, has a success rate of 90-95%. If the cleaning instrument breaks inside the root or the root canals are not completely cleaned, the root canal treatment is rarely repeated. This can occur, albeit rarely. If this is unsuccessful, root resection is performed to save the tooth.