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Endodontic Treatment

Endodontic treatment, also known as “root canal treatment” or “nerve removal,” is the most common dental procedure, absolutely necessary to save teeth in extreme cases of infection.

What is endodontic treatment and what does it involve?

In order to understand why endodontic treatment is important, it is necessary to find out what dental pulp actually is. Inside every tooth, beneath the enamel and dentin, lies the dental pulp, a soft connective tissue made up of cells, fibers and ground substance, blood and lymphatic vessels, as well as nerve fibers. The space that houses this soft tissue is called the pulp chamber, and its extensions along the roots are called root canals. The dental pulp has numerous complex functions, such as the formation of dentin, the nutritive function necessary for the tooth’s vitality, the protective function (sending stimuli), and the defensive function (inflammation), which is why treating the inside of the tooth is vital for our oral health.
An endodontic treatment aims to remove inflamed or infected tissue, to clean and disinfect all the walls of the pulp chamber and root canals that have come into contact with the diseased tissue, and finally to obturate (fill) the root canals with special materials, so that bacteria no longer have room to develop. The main goal of this treatment is to create a sterile environment inside the tooth, so that the affected surrounding tissues can heal, and the tooth can continue to be used properly.
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When is endodontic treatment needed?

If you experience any of the symptoms below, we recommend that you consult your dentist:

  • Sudden onset of pain
  • Prolonged sensitivity to hot or cold
  • Change in Tooth Color
  • Sensitivity and change in the shape of soft tissues near the tooth
  • Appearance of a fistula discharging pus
  • Abnormal tooth mobility, pain when biting, etc.

Regardless of the nature of the harmful agent (microbial, thermal, chemical), the dental pulp will defend itself through a tissue defense reaction called inflammation (dental pulpitis).

How does endodontic treatment work?

A proper endodontic treatment takes place over several stages, under local anesthesia:

  • Removal of the dental pulp from both the pulp chamber and the root canals;
  • Cleaning, disinfection and preparation of the pulp chamber and root canals with specific endodontic files and irrigation solutions;
  • A specific medication may be placed in the root canals for several weeks. This is an optional step and becomes more important the more severe the pulp infection is;
  • The final stage of any endodontic treatment is canal obturation (filling). This procedure involves sealing the root canals with specific filling materials.
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FAQ

QUESTIONS / ANSWERS

Endodontic treatment is necessary when the pulp of the tooth (its interior) becomes inflamed. This pulp contains the nerves and blood vessels that keep the tooth alive. Root canal treatment involves cleaning the canals inside the tooth to remove the infection (and the pain you are experiencing).