Root canals
Root canal treatment is a treatment sequence for badly decayed tooth or infected pulp of a tooth.
During a root canal procedure, the nerve and pulp are removed and the inside of the tooth is cleaned and sealed
During a root canal procedure, the nerve and pulp are removed and the inside of the tooth is cleaned and sealed
Endodontics is derived from the Greek words “endo,” which means “inside” and “odont,” which means tooth. More specifically, it is a dental specialty that focuses on the treatment of the dental pulp. This pulp exists within the center of a tooth and is comprised of living connective tissue, nerves, blood vessels and special cells known as odontoblasts. Through endodontic procedures, dental specialists attempt to preserve tooth function by treating or removing these tissues and cells as necessary. This process is called root canal treatment.
Root canal is a lay persons' term for endodontic therapy or root canal therapy. Root canal therapy is necessary when the pulp (aka "nerve") inside the tooth becomes irreversibly damaged or infected. This irreversible damage is a result of combined injuries that occur over the life of the tooth (decay, trauma, multiple restorations). Root canal therapy is the removal of the entire pulp throughout the root canal system (a tooth can have several roots and a canal or two within those roots), the cleaning and shaping of the canal system, and filling the canals with a polyester synthetic root canal filling and a dental sealer. In most of the time, teeth that are root canal treated should be covered with dental crown to prevent the treated tooth from further fractures and damages because treated teeth are more prone to fractures.
For more information read in the “what to expect” and “FAQ” sections.
First appointment
Patients usually consult the dentist because of severe or moderate tooth pain, swelling or are told by the dentist that root canal treatment is needed during a regular check up in cases when the patient is pain free. If the patient has severe pain, the doctor will first and foremost give the patient local anesthetics and then perform necessary interventions to minimize the pain. In certain situations antibiotics and painkillers might be prescribed as well. Afterwards, the patient will be scheduled for a second visit. However, in some cases when the patients are symptoms free, the whole root canal treatment process might be performed in a single visit. During this visit, the doctor will perform required x-ray images.
Second appointment
During this phase of the treatment, the doctor performs necessary shaping of the root canals as well as thorough rinsing of the tooth. Pain is not expected, however slight sensitivity is possible and using local anesthetic is optional. Depending on which tooth is under treatment, different amount of time is required. Sometimes, if the doctor decides to obturate the canals during this stage, the root canal treatment may be finished in two visits.
Multiple appointments
Depending on the cause and the diagnosis, some chronic infections require multiple visits so that the tooth is adequately treated. Chronic periapical processes need to be treated from few weeks up to few months, because it is very important that there are evident radiological improvements before the tooth is definitely obturated. Such radiological changes are expected to occur in a period between several weeks up to few months.
Final appointment
After the obturation of the canals, the patient is scheduled for post core build up. This usually happens in the following 24-48h, however it is not a problem if it is performed in the next few days or weeks as well. During the post core build up, one or more fiber posts are placed inside the canals to improve the strength of the tooth, that normally gets fragile after the pulp is removed. Following the post core build up, a filling is done and most of the root canal treated teeth should be scheduled for crown preparation so that the tooth is adequately protected from possible fractures.
Patients usually consult the dentist because of severe or moderate tooth pain, swelling or are told by the dentist that root canal treatment is needed during a regular check up in cases when the patient is pain free. If the patient has severe pain, the doctor will first and foremost give the patient local anesthetics and then perform necessary interventions to minimize the pain. In certain situations antibiotics and painkillers might be prescribed as well. Afterwards, the patient will be scheduled for a second visit. However, in some cases when the patients are symptoms free, the whole root canal treatment process might be performed in a single visit. During this visit, the doctor will perform required x-ray images.
Second appointment
During this phase of the treatment, the doctor performs necessary shaping of the root canals as well as thorough rinsing of the tooth. Pain is not expected, however slight sensitivity is possible and using local anesthetic is optional. Depending on which tooth is under treatment, different amount of time is required. Sometimes, if the doctor decides to obturate the canals during this stage, the root canal treatment may be finished in two visits.
Multiple appointments
Depending on the cause and the diagnosis, some chronic infections require multiple visits so that the tooth is adequately treated. Chronic periapical processes need to be treated from few weeks up to few months, because it is very important that there are evident radiological improvements before the tooth is definitely obturated. Such radiological changes are expected to occur in a period between several weeks up to few months.
Final appointment
After the obturation of the canals, the patient is scheduled for post core build up. This usually happens in the following 24-48h, however it is not a problem if it is performed in the next few days or weeks as well. During the post core build up, one or more fiber posts are placed inside the canals to improve the strength of the tooth, that normally gets fragile after the pulp is removed. Following the post core build up, a filling is done and most of the root canal treated teeth should be scheduled for crown preparation so that the tooth is adequately protected from possible fractures.
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