Root Canal Treatment
Root canal treatment (endodontics) is a rescue operation that comes into play when the pulp tissue, which contains the nerves and vessels inside your tooth, is damaged or infected. When decays, traumas or infections threaten the inside of your tooth, this treatment both ends your pain and saves your tooth from extraction. Our expert dentists perform this procedure with modern techniques and prioritising your comfort. So, what exactly is root canal treatment and how does it magically bring your tooth back to life? Let’s discover this journey together!
How is Root Canal Treatment Performed?
This step-by-step process to save your tooth is much more comfortable than you think:
- Examination and X-ray: Your dentist will first examine your tooth and its roots by X-ray. This will clarify the extent of the problem and the condition of the root canals.
- Painless Start: The area is numbed with local anaesthesia; you will not feel anything during the procedure.
- Travelling Inside the Tooth: A small hole is made in the top of the tooth to access the infected pulp tissue.
- Cleaning Time: The root canals are cleaned with special instruments, infected tissues are removed and the canals are shaped.
- Disinfection: Canals are washed with antiseptic solutions to remove bacteria.
- Filling Phase: The clean canals are filled with a biocompatible material (usually gutta-percha), which protects and strengthens your tooth.
- The Final Touch: The tooth is covered with a filling or veneer, thus achieving both a functional and aesthetic result.
With these steps, your tooth is ready to spend many years with you again!
Advantages of Root Canal Treatment
Root canal treatment offers many benefits beyond saving your tooth:
- Your tooth stays in place: Say goodbye to extraction! You protect your natural teeth and do not disturb the order in your mouth.
- Goodbye to Pain: Those unbearable pains you experience due to infection or inflammation become history.
- Stops Infection: Treatment prevents the infection from spreading to the jawbone or other teeth.
- Chewing Pleasure: Your tooth regains its former strength, you can use it comfortably while eating.
- No Difference in Appearance: After the treatment, your tooth retains its natural appearance; no one will realise that you have had root canal treatment.
- Long-lasting Friend: With the right care, your tooth stays with you for years, it almost gains a new chance.
What Should You Pay Attention After Root Canal Treatment?
Your tooth is saved, now it’s time to protect it! Here are some golden tips:
- Hygiene is essential: Do not neglect tooth brushing and flossing; clean teeth mean long-lasting teeth.
- Regular Check-ups: Visit your dentist from time to time and follow the condition of your teeth together.
- Beware of Hard Foods: After the treatment tooth may be a little sensitive; be gentle when chewing hard foods.
Treatment is usually completed in 1-2 sessions. Depending on the condition of the tooth and the severity of the infection, this time may vary. While a single session is sufficient for a simple decay, 2-3 sessions may be required in cases with complex root structures or inflammation. Your dentist will give you clear information after evaluating the process.
Since local anaesthesia is usually used during root canal treatment, no pain is felt during the procedure. After the treatment, there may be a slight pain or sensitivity, but this is usually temporary.
No, modern root canal treatment methods usually do not change the colour of the tooth. The materials used during treatment and the upper restoration (filling or crown) are selected to match your natural tooth tone. In rare cases, treatment with older techniques may result in darkening of the colour, in which case your dentist can improve the aesthetic appearance by recommending whitening or veneers.
- Protect the treated tooth and avoid excessively hard foods immediately.
- Avoid hot and cold foods in the first days, there may be sensitivity.
- Avoid putting pressure on the tooth and biting hard foods.
- Visit your dentist for regular check-ups after root canal treatment.
Yes, the tooth may become a little more fragile after root canal treatment because the pulp tissue is removed. However, this is prevented by strengthening the tooth with a filling or crown. Your dentist will choose a suitable restoration method to increase the durability of your tooth, so that your tooth can be used for a long time without any problems.
Yes, in rare cases, root canal treatment may fail; this usually happens if the root canals are not cleaned completely or if a new infection develops. In case of failure, your dentist may consider alternatives such as retreatment or tooth extraction. However, with modern techniques, the success rate is quite high.
Yes, a tooth that has undergone root canal treatment can decay again, but this is not due to the risk of infection because the pulp tissue has been removed, but due to new decay on the upper surface of the tooth. You can prevent this with regular brushing, flossing and oral hygiene. The quality of the upper restoration is also an important factor in preventing decay.
This treatment does not cause cancer. This claim is false.
No, root canal treatment does not directly affect the gums. The treatment focuses on the pulp and root canals inside the tooth. However, if the infection has spread to the gums, this may require a separate treatment. After root canal treatment, your gums remain healthy and biocompatible filling materials blend with the gums.
After treatment, you may feel that your teeth have become more brittle than normal teeth. Therefore, you should avoid putting too much pressure on your teeth. It is also important to brush and floss regularly during treatment.
On the contrary, root canal treatment prevents tooth loss and prolongs the service life of the tooth.
