Dental Med Travel

When is root canal treatment necessary?

There are various symptoms that make you understand when you need endodontics:

• the formation of an abscess at the root of the tooth; prolonged sensitivity to hot and cold substances
• continuous pain during mastication and throughout the night time

If the infection progresses, the pain and swelling may spread to other parts of the face, showing:

• stiffness and pain in the sinus region
• ear pain
• feeling of the tooth moving

Once the infection has been eliminated thanks to the root canal treatment, the restored tooth can perform the masticatory function normally. However, it is important to take care of oral hygiene after endodontic treatment.

How is the root canal treatment performed?

• The endodontist – a doctor who is specialized in the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of diseases and lesions of the dental pulp – will take an X-ray of the arch to recognize the shape and extent of the inflammation and to decide the most appropriate treatment.
• After anesthesia, a rubber dam is placed over the tooth so that nothing falls on the tooth, even saliva, and the area to be treated remains dry. At that point, the endodontist will remove the pulp tissue and clean out the canals.
• The next step in root canal treatment involves filling each canal with gutta-percha and a sealing cement. Gutta percha is biocompatible with tooth tissue, so it does not cause any effect on the mouth.
• The dentist will fill the tooth with a temporary filling: in a second session, the tooth will be closed either with a permanent filling or with an artificial dental crown, depending on the prognosis obtained from the diagnosis.