All About Root Canal Treatment
Root canal treatment, or endodontic dentistry, is a dental treatment that is used when damage from cavities is so advanced that dentists can no longer simply drill them out and place a filling in them.
This is usually because the problem is too close to the pulp. This is the most living part of the tooth with blood vessels and nerves as well as cells that can make tooth tissue. If cavities become very large, they can lead to pulp necrosis. This process is known as pulpitis.
The dental pulp also includes the nerves of the tooth. It is located in its inner part of the tooth. When compromised for any reason, it causes occasional or continuous pain.
Normally, the problem begins with discomfort when biting and sensitivity to cold or heat. This is called ‘reversible pulpitis’. However, when the pain does not only come on at night, we know that it is ‘irreversible pulpitis’.
Other reasons for the need to perform a root canal treatment can be very diverse, such as:
- dental trauma
- fractures
- wear or erosion of the teeth
- problems due to, for example, bruxism
Methods Used in Root Canal Treatment
Before performing a root canal, dentists should always try to save the tooth with less aggressive methods such as:
- pulp protection: this is a treatment with something similar to a temporary filling. This allows them to conservatively restore the element while treating the damage to the pulp while it is still reversible.
- A pulp coating: This is a way of isolating the exposed pulp by cleaning a cavity created under the filling. Dentists use a medicinal insulation layer for this.
- Pulpotomy: In this treatment, the superficial part of the pulp is partially eliminated and then the exposed parts are covered with medicinal substances.
The procedure
A root canal is the total removal of the dental nerve from the affected site. Dentists perform it under local anesthesia and remove nerves from the root canals with dental files.
These dental files can be manual with the dentist making rotating movements by hand. In addition, the dentist can use motorized files, which rotate at a low number of revolutions per minute.
The steps that the dentist must perform are:
- local anesthetic of the element to be treated.
- opening the element until the pulp is reached.
- removing the nerve from the canals and disinfecting the area.
- fill the canals with gutta-percha.
- taking a control X-ray to verify that the treatment was indeed successful.
- Reconstruction of the dental element by placing a filling or a crown.
Root Canal Treatment and Dentistry in Children
Dentists will always try to do a pulpotomy before performing a root canal. If it’s not possible, they try a treatment called a “pulpectomy.” It’s the equivalent of root canal treatment, but on baby teeth.
A pulpectomy is also a complete removal of the pulp, followed by disinfection and filling of the root canal. The difference is that it is not possible to remove all the pulp from the canal in the milk teeth.
This leaves about 4 mm at the bottom. In this way, the dentist prevents possible damage to the permanent tooth that forms under the baby tooth.
Possible side effects
As with all types of medical treatments, there is a risk of side effects or consequences for the dental elements. A few examples are for example:
- Fragility and greater risk of fractures.
- A certain change in the color and translucency of the tooth.
- In some cases, it may look like there is permanent inflammation at the tip of the root.
After a root canal treatment
After a root canal treatment, the pain should disappear because the tooth nerve has been removed. However, it is very common for the discomfort to persist until the treated area has settled down, about two or three days after surgery.
However, there are some cases where root canal treatment is not a definitive treatment. This can be due to various causes including:
- a failed execution of the procedure
- human mistakes
- the specific anatomy of each tooth
- infections
- and so forth
If so, the most effective action is to redo the treatment. The dentist removes the filling from the canals, cleans and disinfects the canals again and then closes them well again. This way they can avoid having to delete the element.
In short, this treatment allows you to keep a tooth in your mouth, even if it is badly damaged. It is a very effective treatment with generally excellent results!
