Root canal treatment is an intervention performed to ensure that the pulp of the tooth (the vascular-nerve bundle inside the tooth) remains healthy in the mouth without being extracted when it is irreversibly damaged by factors such as decay or trauma.
If damaged or infected pulp is not removed, it can cause infection in the tooth and surrounding tissues. If the inflammation in the pulp is localized only within the canal, there is a possibility that the tooth may be alive during treatment. However, if there is an inflammation involving the root apex of the tooth, the tooth has probably lost its vitality. It is recommended that the success rate of root canal treatments performed on live teeth is higher than on inflamed teeth.
Before root canal treatment, the tooth is anesthetized with local anesthesia. In this way, the patient’s current pain is relieved and it is prevented from feeling pain during the treatment.
After the tooth is anesthetized, the pulp is removed with the help of canal instruments, the canals are shaped and shaped appropriately, washed, dried and the treatment is completed by filling the root canals. Root canal treatment in vital teeth is usually completed in a single session.
In inflamed teeth and canal treatment re-treatments, the treatment may take 2-3 sessions depending on the condition of the tooth. After the first session in which the root canals are cleaned and shaped, an antiseptic is placed inside the tooth and covering with filling. In the next session, if the patient’s current symptoms have passed and no new ones have appeared, the root canal treatment is completed.
The patient is advised not to chew until the local anesthesia (numbness) effect is over. Because in his numbness he may bite his tongue and lip.
For a few days following treatment, it may be painful to press on the tooth. This is normal. Generally the patient does not need to take antibiotics before and during treatment. However, if the tooth is swollen, throbbing or painful on pressure, the patient should consult a dentist.
In teeth with root apex inflammation, between the two sessions, there may occasionally be acute inflammations (flare-ups) characterized by swelling and pain in the surrounding tissues of the tooth. In this case, the patient may need to take an antibiotic that will be prescribed by their doctor.
After the root canal treatment is completed, it is important to cover the tooth with a leakproof superstructure in order to maintain its long-term presence in the mouth. For this reason, the superstructure should be completed without delay after root canal treatment.
If there is serious loss of material in the treated tooth, the tooth may need to be covered with a crown. During this process, the patient should take care not to chew hard foods with the treated side in avoiding breaking the tooth.
A tooth that has successfully completed root canal treatment and has been restored with the appropriate superstructure can continue to exist like other healthy teeth in the mouth. However, it should not be forgotten that the tooth that has been treated with root canal treatment is more fragile and may decay again and cause infection just in the same way as other teeth. For this reason, it is important for the patient to visit the dentist every 6 months after treatment for check-ups.