What is Root Canal Treatment? How is it done?

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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.

If tooth decay is not treated in a timely manner, the decay progresses deeper and causes inflammation of the nerves in the tooth. Inflammation of the dental nerves causes a person to experience severe toothache.

The tooth nerve removed from the tooth is not vital for dental health and function, but it prevents the person from suffering severe pain. It is a sensory nerve used only for the perception of heat and cold. If the treatment is not performed, abscesses may occur with the infection of the tissue surrounding the tooth.

Why is Root Canal Treatment Done?

The nerve or pulp of a tooth can be destroyed, inflamed and infected due to deep caries, a crack or break in the tooth, or facial trauma.

If the nerve tissue or pulp of a tooth is damaged, this tissue breaks down and bacteria around the tooth begin to multiply in the root canal.

These bacteria and other decayed debris can cause an infection or a dental abscess. An abscess is an inflamed sac and occurs when the infection spreads to the end of the root tips of the tooth. An abscess in the tooth causes severe pain in the person.

In addition to causing an infection in the root canal, an abscess can also cause swelling that can spread to the face, neck, or other areas of the head, bone loss around the root of the tooth, and drainage problems in the tooth and cheek.

The treatment of the abscessed tooth as soon as possible is very important for the person to continue their quality of life. With toothache, especially at night, the sleep quality of the person is affected and he may face problems such as distraction during the day.

The most common symptoms that occur in such cases are hot-cold sensitivity in the teeth, swelling, sharp pain during daily routines such as biting and chewing, gum pain, swelling of the gums or darkening of the gums.

Treatment Methods

How make is root treatment?

Root canal treatment can be performed by a dentist or endodontist. Aendodontistis a dentist who specializes in the causes, diagnosis, prevention and treatment of diseases and injuries of the dental pulp or nerve.

A suitable dentist should be selected according to the condition of the tooth and the extent of the procedure to be performed.

The first step in root canal treatment is to determine if there are any signs of infection in the surrounding bones by taking an X-ray to see the shape of the root canals.

The dentist will use a local anesthetic to numb the area near the tooth. In some cases, anesthesia may not be necessary because the dental nerve dies, but many dentists numb the area to relax the patient and allow the procedure to be performed more smoothly.

During treatment, he will place a layer of rubber around the tooth to keep that area dry and saliva-free.

The dentist will then drill an access hole into the root canal. Through this hole, harmful bacteria, decayed nerve tissue and pulp are removed from the tooth. Cleaning is performed using root canal files.

Files of increasing diameter are used by placing them in this hole, respectively, and working along the tooth to scrape and brush the walls of the root canals.

Water or sodium hypochlorite is regularly used to clean the micro-residues from here. After the inner part of the tooth is thoroughly cleaned, the opened hole is closed.

In which situations is root canal therapy applied?

Root canal treatment is usually applied to teeth with cavities or deep fractures. However, in some cases that develop due to trauma, root canal treatment can also be applied to the teeth.

How Long Does Root Canal Treatment Take?

Root canal treatment may vary depending on the number of roots in the person’s tooth, infection in the root canals, cleaning of the nerves. In some cases, additional procedures may be required. In this case, your doctor will inform you about the procedures.

Root canal treatment may take up to a week depending on the infection status of the tooth. An average root canal treatment can take approximately 30 to 90 minutes . In some cases, for example, if there is an infection, a week wait is required before closing the tooth as the dentist will put in medication to clean the tooth.

In other cases, the tooth can be sealed the day it is cleaned. If the root canal treatment is not completed on the same day, a temporary filling is placed in the hole so that the canal is not re-infected and remains clean.

When the tooth is to be closed, a compound called gutta-percha, a paste that will prevent leakage, is placed inside the hole. The external access hole opened at the beginning of the treatment is then closed with a filling.

It is necessary to avoid chewing with that tooth until the root canal treatment is completely completed, that is, the permanent filling is placed. In this way, it will be possible to prevent both the re-contamination of the inner part of the tooth and the damage of the temporarily weakened tooth before it is supported. Normal dental care, such as brushing teeth and using an antiseptic mouthwash, should be maintained throughout this period.

Full restoration of the tooth may require further action. Since the tooth in need of root canal treatment is usually a tooth with a large filling or extensive decay or other weakness, procedures such as crowns and crowns can be applied to protect the tooth and prevent it from breaking. The need for these procedures will be indicated in advance by the dentist.

Will There Be Pain After Root Canal Treatment?

Although root canal treatment is known as a painful procedure, it is not a procedure that causes more pain and suffering than a normal filling procedure. The pain, soreness and tenderness felt are caused by already existing inflammation and infection.

During the first few days following the completion of root canal treatment, there may be tenderness in the tissue in the area, especially if there is a cleared infection. This pain can be controlled with over-the-counter pain medications.

Things to Consider After Root Canal Treatment

After the root canal treatment, there are some situations that should be considered while the teeth are gradually improving. These;

• Avoiding biting hard or crusty foods until root canal treatment is finished.

• To continue daily dental cleaning without interruption. To ensure that the teeth are brushed at least 2 times a day in a circular motion and gently, taking into account the sensitivity of the teeth.

• To use dental floss at least once a day to prevent possible infections after root canal treatment.

• Reducing the consumption of sticky and sugary foods for a while after treatment

• Regular use of pain relievers or sprays recommended by the physician at the end of the treatment. If the painkillers or sprays used do not reduce the pain, you can consult your doctor as soon as possible.

Root canal treatment used to be known as a painful treatment method, but today, the risk of pain is eliminated with anesthetic drugs given to the person.

Daily care of healthy teeth, keeping them clean, using dental floss, avoiding sugary foods, reducing smoking and alcohol consumption play an effective role in preventing tooth loss and root canal treatment. With regular check-ups by the dentist twice a year , scaling cleaning and regular maintenance, healthy teeth can be protected by preventing unwanted tooth loss.

What are the Alternatives to Root Canal Treatment?

Root canal treatment is a very effective procedure with a success rate of more than 95%. Teeth that are fixed by filling the root canal with root canal treatment can be used for life with proper dental care.

Preservation of natural teeth is always the preferred option in oral health. An alternative to root canal treatment is to replace the problematic tooth with a bridge, implant or removable partial denture, both to restore chewing function and to prevent slipping of adjacent teeth .

These alternatives are both more expensive than root canal treatment and require a longer treatment process.

How to Prevent Root Canal Treatment?

The simplest way to prevent the nerve and pulp of a tooth from becoming inflamed and infected is to pay attention to oral hygiene. For this, it is recommended to brush teeth at least twice a day, use dental floss and mouthwash. Dental trauma from sports-related injuries can also be reduced by using a mouth guard.