Endodontics

What is endodontics (root canal treatment)?

A root canal is the removal of the pulp from the tooth, in fact if the pulp is not treated in time, the decay will enlarge and deepen, causing severe pain and discomfort.

 

If your dentist recommends root canal treatment, you need not worry, because every year hundreds of thousands of patients are relieved of their pain and their teeth restored to health thanks to root canal treatment.

 

When should root canal treatment be performed?

Our teeth are made up of enamel, dentin and pulp tissue. The name of the layer we see on the outermost part of our teeth is enamel tissue, and this tissue is very hard and strong. It is harder for bacteria to damage the enamel tissue, but in cases where bacteria exceed the enamel tissue, the decay of the teeth deepens and reaches the dentin layer.

 

The dentin layer is softer than the enamel and, more importantly, we have nerve endings in the dentin layer and these nerve endings allow us to feel sensitivity. The deeper the decay penetrates the dentin layer, the greater our sensitivity to cold and heat, and the further the decay reaches the pulp, the greater the pain.

 

Since the pulp tissue contains vessels and nerves that nourish our teeth, decay that reaches here causes excruciating pain, discomfort that can lead to sleep problems at night, inability to eat and even inflammation in the tooth. In this case, a canal treatment is necessary.

 

Root canal treatment involves removing the vessels and nerves in the pulp and instead administering appropriate medication to prevent the tooth from causing pain again.

 

Another reason that requires root canal treatment besides tooth decay is trauma. Trauma that occurs in the tooth as a result of falls and injuries causes inflammation by damaging the pulp, vessels and nerve bundle of the tooth. In such cases, root canal treatment can be performed to avoid losing the tooth.

 

How long does a root canal treatment take?

The first step in root canal treatment is the clinical examination and the X-ray examination. If the patient complains of pain for a long time, the tooth may be infected. In such cases, root canal treatment can take up to 3, 4 and sometimes 5 sessions; if diagnosed early, this period can be completed with 2 sessions.

 

The first session of a root canal treatment takes 20-40 minutes, while the subsequent sessions take between 5-10 minutes.

 

Is there any pain after a root canal treatment?

As the patient is given a local anaesthetic before the canal treatment begins, the treatment is painless. If the tooth is infected or inflamed, there may be slight pain for the first few days after treatment.

 

What is the success rate of a root canal treatment?

The success rate of a root canal treatment is 95%. The anatomical conditions of the teeth, an early diagnosis and a well-made root canal filling (root canal treatment) influence the success rate.

 

The easiest way to prevent inflammation of the pulp or nerves of the tooth is to pay attention to dental check-ups, oral hygiene and diet every 6 months.