Root Canal Treatment
Root canal treatment is perceived as a frightening experience for many patients. However, since this procedure is performed under local anesthesia so that patients do not feel pain or pain, it is not a scary situation. Since it is a treatment performed using modern techniques, patient comfort is at the forefront as well as the protection of dental health. It is of great importance to perform the operation on time, as root canal treatments that are not performed on time can cause tooth loss and even bone problems.
What is Root Canal Treatment?
Tooth filling can be an effective treatment method in cases where caries or fractures do not deepen. However, root canal treatment should be applied in case of deep caries and fractures. Surgical removal of the damaged part of the pulp in the inner part of the tooth is of great importance in order to prevent infections in the teeth. The pulp, also called the pulp of the tooth, houses the nerves, connective tissues and blood vessels. Therefore, the progression of caries to the pulp increases the risk of infection. In such a case, the most common complaint of patients is severe toothache. If the treatment of caries on the pulp is not carried out in a timely manner, the infection will progress and more serious problems may arise, including tooth abscesses. Pulp death is among these problems. If pulp death occurs, it is possible to experience bone loss along with tooth loss. Therefore, if fractures or cracks have occurred in the mouth due to caries, a timely root canal treatment should be applied to save the tooth.
In Which Situations Is Root Canal Treatment Necessary?
Root canal treatment is applied to treat fractures, cracks and bruises in the teeth that cannot be treated with conventional treatment methods. Because if the caries in the teeth have reached the nerves, it is not possible to treat with filling. In other words, if root canal treatment is required, the pulp is infected and therefore the damaged part has to be removed. It is possible to list the common symptoms that will necessitate root canal treatment as follows:
- Formation of cracks, fractures or deep caries in the teeth,
- Swelling in the neck or face,
- Swelling or bleeding in the gums,
- Pain with biting, chewing or similar activities
- Sensitivity to heat and cold,
- Wound formation in the gums or in the mouth,
- Darkening of the gums.
All these signs indicate serious dental problems that may require root canal treatment. Therefore, a dentist control and treatment is required.
What are the Root Canal Treatment Application Steps?
The main purpose of root canal treatment is to save teeth to allow patients to maintain their functional properties. For the aforementioned recovery process, infections and bruises descending to the pulp must be cleaned. After the caries and infection are cleaned, the formed canals are shaped, the filling process is performed, and thus the unusable teeth are regained function. Root canal treatment can be completed in a single session depending on the condition of the tooth and the patient, and the ideal treatment process consists of two sessions. The steps followed in root canal treatment are as follows:
- X-ray of the jaw area is taken to view the condition of the tooth root and to have information about the formation of infection,
- If the dental pulp cannot be treated with conventional treatment methods, the necessary preparations for root canal treatment are started,
- The pulp area of the patient, which is taken under local anesthesia at the time of application, is removed,
- Root canals are cleaned and suitable ground is prepared for root canal treatment,
- After a 45-minute root canal treatment process, another x-ray is taken to check the condition of the canals,
- If there is no problem, the pulp part, which is emptied using permanent materials, is filled with the second session.
After the first session is completed, the second session is performed at the end of approximately 4 to 5 days. In this process, temporary filling is applied for patients to continue their eating and drinking activities. After the application, the use of medication may be recommended by the physician. At the same time, patients' attention to oral and dental care is of great importance for the success of the operation.