DENTISTRY

ROOT CANAL TREATMENT

Root Canal Tratment: What is it, What are the Applications and Procedures, Frequently Asked Questions

What is Root Canal Treatment?

Root canal treatment is a treatment method used to repair and save infected or decayed teeth. During root canal treatment, the pulp and dental nerve, which is the soft tissue found in the natural cavity called root canal in the hard tissue of the tooth, is removed, the inside of the tooth is cleaned, and then the opened space is filled.

1.In Which Situations Should Root Canal Treatment Be Applied?

At the beginning of the conditions that require root canal treatment are deep caries and cracks in the dental bone. In cases where the tooth is damaged too much to heal, the pulp part is removed to protect the tooth. Therefore, the biggest advantage of root canal treatment is to save the dead tooth and not to lose the bone structure of the tooth. Some symptoms of conditions that require root canal treatment can be listed as follows:

  • Swelling in the face and neck
  • Permanent tooth sensitivity, especially too hot or cold
  • Pain when chewing or biting
  • Acne-like scar on the gums
  • Cracked teeth
  • Swelling og the gums
  • Diffuse toothache
  • Deep bruises
  • Darkened gums
  • The dentist takes an X-ray to see the root structure of the tooth and determine if there are signs of infection. Thus, the damage to the tooth is evaluated and it is decided whether a root canal treatment is needed.
  • If the dental pulp is very damaged, root canal treatment is started.
  • If there is severe pain due to abscess in the tooth, local anesthesia is applied before the treatment.
  • The first step of root canal treatment is the careful removal of the pulp inside 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 using appropriately sized apparatus.
  • A session of root canal treatment takes approximately 45 minutes. After the necessary procedures have been carried out, the tooth is x-rayed at least twice. If the dentist considers that the treatment is successful, the canal with a permanent material is filled after the disinfection process so that the canals are not affected by contamination.
  • Dentists can wait 4-5 days for the tooth to heal before applying permanent filling. In this case, the tooth cavity is closed with a temporary filling.
  • In the next session, the temporary filling of the tooth is removed with a painless procedure and permanent filling is performed. Permanent filling process; dental paste and a rubber-based substance called gutta percha. Calcium hydroxide based pastes prevent any external leakage into the root canal.
  • Avoid biting hard or crusty foods until root canal treatment is finished.
  • Daily dental cleaning should be continued without interruption. Teeth should be brushed at least 2 times a day with circular movements and gently considering the sensitivity of the teeth.
  • To prevent possible infections after root canal treatment, dental floss should be used at least once a day.
  • Reducing the consumption of gummy and sugary foods for a while after treatment.
  • At the end of the treatment, pain relievers or sprays recommended by the physician should be used regularly. If the painkillers or sprays do not reduce the pain, you can consult your doctor as soon as possible.

Root canal treatment is a procedure with a success rate of more than 95%. Many teeth that have had root canal treatment can be used for a lifetime. However, despite your dentist's best efforts to clean and fill a tooth, new infections can occur in a root canal.