Root canal treatment is applied in cases where the intervention with a filling is insufficient, if there is inflammation, if the tooth decay has progressed, and if it is painful. If dental caries is not treated in a timely manner, the caries progresses deeper and causes inflammation of the nerves in the tooth. Inflammation of the dental nerves can cause severe toothache, problems such as darkening of the tooth, sensitivity to hot and cold may occur. The extracted tooth nerve is not vital for dental health and function, but removal prevents the person from experiencing severe pain. This nerve is a sensory nerve used only for the perception of heat and cold.
Caries is removed. The pulp cavity and root canals are cleaned, expanded and shaped for canal filling. If more than one session is needed, temporary filling is done between sessions.
The temporary filling is then removed and the pulp cavity and canal are permanently filled. A tapered, rubbery material called gutta percha is inserted into each of the channels and usually held in place with cement (adhesive). Sometimes a metal or plastic rod can be placed inside the channel for structural support. In the last step, a filling or veneer is placed on the tooth to restore its natural appearance and shape.
Root canal treatment may vary depending on the number of roots in the person's tooth, infection in the root canals, cleaning of the nerves. In some cases, additional procedures may be required. In this case, your doctor will inform you about the procedures. Root canal treatment may take up to a week depending on the infection status of the tooth. An average root canal treatment can take approximately 30 to 90 minutes. In some cases, for example, if there is an infection, a week wait is required before closing the tooth as the dentist will put in medication to clean the tooth.
Although root canal treatment is known as a painful procedure, it is not a procedure that causes more pain than a normal filling procedure. The pain and tenderness felt is due to already existing inflammation and infection. During the first few days following the completion of root canal treatment, there may be tenderness, especially in the tissue in the existing area. This pain can be controlled with painkillers that your doctor will recommend.
Root canal treatment is a very effective procedure with a success rate of more than 95%. Root canal treated teeth can be used for life with proper dental care. Preservation of natural teeth is always the preferred option in oral health. An alternative to root canal treatment is to replace the problematic tooth with a bridge or implant in order to both restore the chewing function and prevent the other adjacent teeth from slipping. These alternatives are both more expensive than root canal treatment and require a longer treatment process.
Root canal treatment is a repeatable procedure. In cases where the treatment is unsuccessful, the canal filling is emptied, the root canals can be reshaped and disinfected and then filled again. The success rate of a well-done root canal treatment is 90-95%. So there is no inflammation or pain. However, if the person does not pay attention to oral hygiene, a new caries in the tooth, a fracture in the hard tissue of the tooth, such as bacterial leakage into the root canals, re-infection may develop.
Because the pulp that keeps the tooth alive is removed, the treated tooth becomes more susceptible to fracture. This is important when deciding whether to apply a crown or filling to the tooth after the canal treatment. The most common method to check the success or failure of this treatment is to compare the X-rays taken before the treatment with the X-rays taken recently. This comparison will show whether bone loss continues or bone remodeling.