What is endodontic treatment and why do teeth need it?
Endodontic treatment is treatment inside the tooth, which is required in the treatment of complicated caries, as well as in preparation for prosthetics.
Modern methods of endodontic treatment make it possible to save even severely damaged teeth, prevent complications leading to tooth loss.
The pulp is a soft tissue that contains the nerves, blood and lymphatic vessels of the tooth. It is located in the pulp chamber in the crown of the tooth and in the root canals of the tooth.
Why does toothache occur?
The penetration of microbes from a deep carious cavity into the pulp causes its death and decomposition (rot) of the vascular-nerve bundle, in the process of which we experience severe aching, night pains and pains from temperature stimuli. However, inflammation of the pulp can also be due to other reasons, for example, in the event of a tooth injury. It happens that the process of infection of the tooth pulp takes a long time and is practically asymptomatic. In such cases, as well as when we did not treat the tooth, but suppressed the symptoms with painkillers, the inflammation smoothly flows into the next stage. The vascular-nerve bundle of the tooth that has died during inflammation has a toxic effect and ensures the introduction of pathological microorganisms beyond the hard tissues of the tooth. First, the ligaments surrounding and holding the tooth in the socket are inflamed (fibrous periodontitis), and then, when decay products accumulate at the tips of the roots, destruction and purulent melting of bone tissue occurs (granulomatous and granulomatous periodontitis, radicular cyst). This condition, as a rule, is accompanied by the fact that we feel pain when putting a load on the tooth, that is, when biting, and in the acute stage even when touching the tooth. In the absence of treatment, the focus of destruction of bone tissue increases and can capture neighboring, often healthy teeth, which will lead to infection and death of their vascular and nerve bundle. A complication of periodontitis can be inflammation of the periosteum (periostitis), as well as phlegmon of the maxillofacial area (commonly known as "flux"), sinusitis, and osteomyelitis.
First of all, it depends on the localization of the inflammatory process, in other words, on the diagnosis.
What should be done to treat a sick tooth?
When the inflammation is localized in the tooth chamber, and the tissues surrounding the tooth are healthy (diagnosis of pulpitis), it is enough to anesthetize, clean the carious cavity of softened and infected tissues, and create access to the pulp chamber of the tooth, where the inflamed vascular-nerve bundle is located. Then, special tools are used to remove the pulp, including from the root canals of the tooth.
In our clinic, we use the most modern equipment for the mechanical processing of root canals of the Dentsply company.
Canals are cleaned by mechanical and medicinal treatment with various tools and antiseptics, after which the expanded and processed channels are filled with sealing materials. Biocompatible materials are used, which ensure reliable sealing of root canals.
Our specialists use the most modern equipment for obturation and control of the tightness of sealed root canals. All these manipulations prevent the penetration of infection into the tissues surrounding the tooth. After that, the crown part of the tooth is restored.
What should be done if the infection has entered the tissues around the tooth?
At the first stage, the same processing of the hard tissues of the tooth is carried out and the release of the pulp chamber and root canals from the decomposed vascular-nerve bundle and necrotic masses, mechanical and medicinal treatment of the root canals.
The next stage of treatment is aimed at eliminating inflammation and restoring the surrounding tissues (stimulation of regenerative processes). Various drugs are used for this, possibly in combination with physiotherapeutic procedures. Medicinal preparations are used in the form of solutions or filling pastes, which are placed in the treated root canal to affect the focus of inflammation through the apex of the root and for the purpose of tissue regeneration. This is a longer treatment (up to 6 months), the success of which depends not only on the severity of the lesion, but also on the general state of immunity. The results of such treatment are evaluated by X-ray images of the teeth.
When the therapeutic effect is achieved, the doctor cleans the root canals from the temporary filling material, seals them and restores the crown part of the tooth.
After any endodontic treatment, dynamic monitoring of the condition of the tooth is necessary. For this, X-ray control examinations are performed after 6, 12 months, then once a year.
Thus, timely modern endodontic treatment allows you to save those teeth that dentists previously had to remove.
What should be done to prevent the disease?
Root canal therapy is a complex, time-consuming, expensive stage of dental treatment and does not always end successfully. Therefore, regular, at least 2 times a year, visits to the dentist, daily brushing with fluoride-containing pastes and flossing will help prevent the development of carious complications and keep your teeth healthy.