ENDODONTIC
ENDODONTIC
What is Endodontics?
Endodontics is also known as root canal treatment. Endodontic treatment is applied to the patient's tooth because the tooth is infected or has significant decay. It eliminates most of the problems that cause tooth extraction and allows the tooth to be saved. Endodontics, which is one of the most important treatments for teeth, can be applied simply.
What is Root Canal Treatment? (Endodontics)
If a person is going to have root canal treatment, that is, endodontics, by learning some information about the tooth structure; He/she should better understand why this treatment is needed. The tooth has 3 layers. Pulp, one of these layers, is located in the root canal inside the tooth. The pulp has a soft structure equipped with blood vessels and nerves to nourish the tooth.
If an infection occurred in the tooth and this infection went down to the pulp layer, this tooth would definitely have to be extracted. Because it was impossible to return this tooth. However, with developing technology and treatment methods, it has become possible to clean this tooth from infection and return it to its former state.
During the endodontic procedure, the infected pulp and nerves will be removed. During endodontics, the infection in the tooth will be cleaned and the tooth will be filled again, so the patient will be able to use the tooth as it was before.
Since dental nerves only provide the sensation of hot and cold in adult humans, the person will not suffer any loss. In addition, it will be of great benefit as the tooth is saved when it is about to be lost.
When the tooth's pulp and nerve tissue begin to be damaged, the tooth will break into pieces. Bacteria growing between these parts will cause complete loss of the tooth and damage to other teeth. When endodontics or another method is not applied for tooth decay, it is possible that the jawbone will be damaged in addition to tooth loss.
How Long Does Endodontics Take, How Is Endodontics Done?
Depending on the condition of the patient's tooth who wants to have endodontics, the treatment process may take 1 or 2 sessions. In addition, if the damage to the tooth is severe, endodontics can be applied in 3 sessions.
Endodontic treatment is among the procedures that can be performed by a dentist or endodontist who is an expert in this field. The name given to a person who specializes in the field of endodontics is endodontist. Endodontist can be said to be a dentist who is more interested in dental nerves.
If a person who goes to the dentist is told that root canal treatment is required, this person must first have a dental x-ray. This x-ray will check how the canal roots are standing and whether there are any signs of infection in the jawbone.
If the procedure is started after this, the dentist will use local anesthesia to numb the area around your tooth. Although local anesthesia is not always necessary due to the death of the dental nerve due to infection; Local anesthesia is applied to the patient to relax and in case he/she feels pain.
While endodontic treatment is being applied to your tooth, you will notice that a waterproof material is coated around your tooth to prevent this area from getting wet. Your tooth will be drilled quite thinly to reach the pulp layer of the tooth.
Everything inside the tooth that is affected by the infection will be cleaned by the doctor. During the cleaning process, these damaged parts are removed from the tooth.
While cleaning the inside of the tooth, the hole in the tooth must be widened. In this way, the tooth will be completely cleaned. Another reason for widening the hole is that the filling process will be easier.
The tool used to enlarge the hole can be compared to a nail file, as it will perform a rasping action. This process, called canal filing, will enlarge the hole without causing major damage to the tooth. Since there is local anesthesia in the tooth and the nerve of the tooth is removed, no pain is felt.
After the canal filing process; The dirt remaining in the mouth is cleaned using water or sodium hypochlorite compound.
In endodontic treatment, after cleaning the tooth, the last action to be done is to close the hole in the tooth. However, dentists are divided into two on this issue. While one side states that the tooth should be closed on the day it is cleaned, the other side says that 1 week should pass after the cleaning process for the tooth to be closed.
The reason for this is; It is stated that a new infection may occur in the tooth, and if it occurs, it will be easier to intervene.
Your dentist will act according to his opinion. However, it is also known that in some cases, doctors put medication for infection into the tooth and close the canal after a while.
If the tooth will not be closed on the day of cleaning, a temporary filling should be performed. Because; Since there is a hole in the tooth, food residue, drink and saliva will leak into this hole. This situation must definitely be prevented.
Closing the hole in the patient's tooth will both make the tooth stronger and prevent new infections that may occur. If the dentist will fill the canal opened to the tooth, he will measure the length of the canal and prepare the filling material accordingly.
This material is in the form of a rod and consists of a rubber compound. The material prepared according to the measurements is placed inside the channel. If there is an excess part coming out of the channel, this part is cut off by the heat method.
Even if the largest gap of the canal is filled with this rubber material, there is a possibility of any leakage into the canal. Therefore, with the special mixture prepared, leakage into the channel will definitely be prevented.
If leakage occurs, there will be significant tooth pain for the patient. It is also seen that filling is applied to the tooth depending on the condition of the damage found in the tooth. The decayed parts of the tooth will also be filled with this treatment.