The treatment method applied to repair and save a severely infected or decayed tooth, which is completed by removing the pulp, which is the nerve and living part of the tooth, and filling the resulting gap, is called root canal treatment. Root canal treatment prevents the patient from experiencing tooth loss and allows the patient to continue using the tooth for many years without any deterioration in chewing function. Starting early is very important in saving the tooth with this treatment method. Because if neglected, the infection spreads to the surrounding teeth and it becomes impossible to save the tooth.
How is Root Canal Treatment Done?
Canal treatment is completed in a single or double session, depending on the health condition of the patient's tooth. In this stage, the dentist starts with taking x-rays to examine the root canals of the teeth and see if there is any infection in the surrounding bone tissue. After examining the x-ray, the dentist who decides on the treatment applies local anesthesia in the first stage. Although there is no need for anesthesia in some patients because the nerve has died, most of the time a small dose of anesthesia is applied to relieve the patient's psychology. In the second stage, a hole is drilled into the tooth to remove the pulp where bacteria are concentrated, the nerve tissue that has begun to decay, and other tissues that are infected in this area. With the hole opened, the canal may need to be widened in order to carry out the cleaning process effectively.
Since the dental nerves are removed during the canal widening process, the patient does not feel any pain from the canal widening process performed by filing. It may be necessary to wait a few days for the completely cleaned tooth to be sealed, and this period will also eliminate the possibility of recurrence of the infection thanks to the solutions the dentist will apply inside the tooth. In the final stage, the completely cleaned tooth is filled. This filling process prevents new infections and also gives strength to the tooth. After the entire tooth canals and space are filled with special substances, the root canal treatment is terminated by filling depending on the damage to the tooth.
When is root canal treatment needed?
The fracture to the dental nerves In cases of trauma due to injuries,
Caries that have progressed to the dental nerves,
Teeth that have lost their vitality by not being able to withstand too much pressure during orthodontic treatment,
Advanced gum problems,
What procedures are performed during root canal treatment?
Dental x-ray, anesthesia, pulpectomy and filling procedures are performed respectively. After consulting an endodontist, a dental x-ray is taken to determine the location and extent of the decay. Local anesthesia is applied around the tooth where the detected decay is located, in proportion to the size of the decay and inflammation. A cavity is created by completely removing the pulp from the anesthetized tooth. The root canal treatment is completed by filling this gap appropriately with a filling material.
How long does Root Canal Treatment last?
If the problem in the tooth is not too big, a single session is sufficient to complete the root canal treatment. However, in teeth with advanced decay, root canal treatment is performed by the endodontist in one or more sessions in order to completely clean the decay and inflamed tissue and obtain better results.
What should be paid attention to during the root canal treatment?
During root canal treatment, temporary filling is used between sessions. For this reason, during the treatment, in order not to damage this filling and the weak tooth at that time, sticky foods such as chewing gum or hard foods such as nuts should not be consumed, which will strain the tooth.
Is pain felt after the root canal treatment, and if so, what should be done?
Since the nerves in the tooth are removed with root canal treatment, tooth pain is not felt after the tissue goes through the healing process. If pain persists for a while after the treatment, it may be due to incomplete or insufficient root canal filling treatment. When such a situation is encountered, the problematic canal filling is removed and a new and correct treatment is applied.
How long does the effect of root canal treatment last, how long can the treated tooth be used?
Teeth on which root canal treatment is applied. If the treatment process went smoothly and the dentist recommended oral and dental care, If the instructions are followed properly, it can be used for a lifetime.
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