What is Endodontics?
Endodontics is also known as root canal treatment. Endodontic treatment is applied to the patient's tooth due to infection or significant decay of the tooth. 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 in a simple way.
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; better understand what this treatment is needed for. The tooth has 3 layers. One of these layers, the pulp, is located in the root canal of the tooth. The pulp is a soft structure equipped with blood vessels and nerves to nourish the tooth.
If an infection had occurred in the tooth and this infection had descended to the pulp layer, this tooth had to be extracted in the past. Because this tooth was impossible to return. However, with the developing technology and treatment methods, it has become possible to clean this tooth from infection and return it to its original 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 before.
Since the dental nerves only feel hot and cold in adults, the person will not have any loss. In addition, it will be of great benefit as the tooth is saved when it is about to be lost.
When the pulp and nerve tissue of the tooth begin to be damaged, the tooth will be divided into pieces. Bacteria multiplying between these parts will cause complete loss of the tooth and damage to other teeth. When endodontics or another method is not applied for dental caries, it is possible to damage the jawbone in addition to losing the tooth.
How Long Does Endodontics Last, How Is Endodontics Done?
Depending on the condition of the tooth of the patient who wants to have endodontics, the treatment process may take 1 or 2 sessions. In addition, if the tooth is damaged, endodontics can be applied in 3 sessions.
Endodontic treatment is one of the procedures that a dentist or endodontist can do. The name given to a person who is an expert in the field of endodontics is an endodontist. An endodontist can be called a dentist who deals mostly with the dental nerve.
If a person who goes to the dentist is told that they need root canal treatment, this person should first have a dental X-ray. Thanks to this x-ray, it will be checked how the roots of the canal stand and whether there are any signs of infection in the jawbone.
If the procedure is done after this, the dentist will apply 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 for the relief of the patient and in case of feeling pain.
While endodontic treatment is being applied to your tooth, you will notice that a waterproof material is covered around your tooth to prevent this area from getting wet. Your tooth will be drilled very thinly to reach the pulp layer of the tooth.
Everything inside the tooth and affected by the infection will be cleaned by the doctor. In the cleaning process, these damaged parts are removed from the tooth.
While cleaning the inside of the tooth, the hole in the tooth should be enlarged. Thus, the tooth will be completely cleaned. Another reason for widening the hole is that the filling process will be done more easily.
The tool used to enlarge the hole can be likened to a nail file as it will make a file. This process, called canal filing, will enlarge the hole without 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; By using water or sodium hypochlorite compound, the remaining dirt in the mouth is cleaned.
After cleaning the tooth in endodontic treatment, the last thing to do is to close the hole in the tooth. However, dentists are divided on this issue. While one side states that the tooth should be closed on the day it is cleaned, the other side says that it takes 1 week after the cleaning process to close the tooth.
As the reason for this; It is stated that a new infection may occur in the tooth, and if it does, it will be easier to intervene.
Whatever opinion your dentist has, he will act accordingly. However, it is also known that in some cases, doctors put medicine for infection in the tooth and close the canal after a while.
If the tooth will not be closed on the day of cleaning, temporary filling should be done. Because; Since there is a hole in the tooth, food residue, drink and saliva will escape into this hole. This situation must be prevented.
Closing the hole in the patient's tooth will both affect the strength of the tooth and prevent new infections that may occur. If the dentist is going to fill the canal opened in the tooth, he will measure the length of the canal and prepare the filling material accordingly.
This material is in the form of rods and consists of 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 by the heat method.
Even if the largest cavity of the duct is filled with this rubber material, there is a possibility of any leakage into the duct. Therefore, leakage into the channel will be prevented with the special mixture prepared.
If leakage occurs, there will be significant toothache for the patient. It is also seen that filling process is applied to the tooth according to the condition of the damage in the tooth. The decayed parts of the tooth will also be filled with this treatment.
Endodontics Will There Be Pain During?
People may think that there could be pain during endodontic treatment, but this is definitely not the case. The maximum discomfort it might cause is similar to the pain experienced during a filling procedure. Since local anesthesia is applied, the sensation of pain is minimized. It's natural for patients to experience some sensitivity during endodontic treatment. This sensitivity arises due to potential damage to the pulp.
Pain After Endodontics
Endodontics is one of the most common methods for saving teeth and eliminating toothache. Feeling pain after this treatment is quite uncommon. If a patient was experiencing severe pain in the tooth before undergoing endodontic treatment, they might experience sensitivity for 1 or 2 days after the treatment. If you do experience pain, you can seek help from your dentist by letting them know about your discomfort.
Post-Endodontic Care
Just like there are post-treatment care instructions for any medical procedure, there are also certain guidelines to follow after endodontic treatment. You can learn about these guidelines from the list provided below:
Endodontic treatment often doesn't conclude in a single session. If you're in such a situation, try not to use the treated tooth until the next session and reduce extreme consumption of hot or cold items to prevent discomfort. During the first 2 hours after the completion of endodontic treatment, avoid consuming any food or drinks. Even if the treatment is completely finished, be cautious about consuming items that are extremely hot or cold for a few days to avoid sensations like throbbing in the tooth.
The most crucial aspect to pay attention to after the treatment is oral hygiene. Neglecting oral hygiene could lead to infections and decay in other teeth. For oral hygiene, it's necessary to use a toothbrush, dental floss, and antiseptic mouthwash. While many people might underestimate the use of dental floss, it's an effective method for preventing tooth decay.
