Root canal treatment aims to treat damaged teeth, following the gradual wear of the layers of this tooth - the enamel, dentin and pulp. In most cases, the tooth erodes as a result of excessive caries - the accumulation of bacterial plaque.

When caries penetrates the outer layers of the tooth and reaches the pulp - the inner layer that contains nerves and blood vessels, the only way to treat this condition before a tooth infection and permanent damage to the bone tissue in the tooth is by treating the tooth root canal: opening the tooth, removing the decay, Remove the pulp and clean the root canal. Finally, the tooth must be filled with a special material that seals it. The second possibility is a tooth extraction. Symptoms that may indicate tooth damage include pain, swelling of the face or neck, a hole in the tooth, sensitivity to cold or heat, and periodontal swelling, among others.

Preparing for the operation:

In most cases, the root canal is treated under local anesthesia only, although this surgery can be performed under general anesthesia. In some cases, this treatment can be done without resorting to anesthesia at all, in the event that the tooth loses its vitality (as a result of nerve damage, there is no feeling of pain or any other feeling).

Before performing the treatment, dental imaging must be done by x-ray (X-ray), and in some cases a special procedure (panoramic image) is required in order to accurately determine the disease of the tooth. In people who are in good health there is no need for other special tests. But patients who are considered more vulnerable to endocarditis, such as people with artificial valves and others, must inform the dentist so that he provides them with a dose of antibiotics before treatment.

People with blood clotting disorders may be required to have a blood test to check their clotting function before surgery, as they are at risk of bleeding.

The course of surgery:

This treatment is performed in the dental clinic under sterile conditions, and the endodontist is performed by a general dentist or dentist who specializes in this treatment. Sometimes the treatment continues for more than one meeting, but rather several treatment meetings in the clinic.

The patient is injected with a local anesthetic into the area to be treated, as is the case with all regular dental treatments (sometimes there is a need to expand the range of anesthesia). The initial stage of treatment includes opening the enamel and removing the decay accumulated in the tooth and around it, by means of special tools. After that, the tooth pulp layer is removed, and the tooth root canal is thoroughly cleaned.

In the event that it was possible to end the treatment with one treatment session, the doctor inserts a special substance that blocks the root canal of the tooth, and which aims to prevent the proliferation of new germs in the area of ​​the root of the tooth. Then, the doctor will normally fill the tooth (filling). In cases where the doctor decides to divide the treatment into several sessions (for example, due to waiting until the infection at the site of the treatment is cured), the doctor will fill the tooth canal with a sterile material and fill the tooth with a temporary material, and the tooth is permanently closed at an advanced stage. Each session lasts about an hour.