Effective Procedure To Save Your Teeth
In the United States, more than 15 million conduit treatments are performed annually, according to the American Association of Endodontists.
When a decay or other situation significantly damages a tooth, it is possible that the only option to save it is a root canal treatment, a procedure that is practiced 41,000 times a day in our country, according to reports the American Association of Endodontics.
This procedure, also called endodontic therapy, aims to remove bacteria and dead or decaying nervous tissue from the inside of an affected tooth, removing its pulp and sealing the space with inert material to prevent the loss of the tooth.
The origins of this treatment date back to the seventeenth century, although the most important reference in this regard is the American specialist in therapy of root canals, Harry B. Johnston, who coined the term endodontics, which comes from the Greek words "endo" , which translates as inside, and "odontos" which means tooth.
Currently, this term gives name to a dental specialty recognized since 1963 by the American Dental Association.
The dreaded therapy, because it can involve several sessions, is applied to fractured teeth or with deep caries that present an infection that significantly damages the pulp tissue, making the total removal of it the only possible therapeutic option.
The lesion in the dental pulp, known as pulpitis, causes a continuous and permanent pain that increases in contact with cold, heat, and sweet or acid foods. It is a delicate condition that requires immediate attention to prevent damage to the bone surrounding the tooth and major complications.
Root canal treatment can be somewhat uncomfortable because it involves a series of steps that involve several visits to the dentist. After routine examination and radiographs to confirm the internal situation of the dental piece involved, the process begins with the perforation of the piece.
Once the ducts are exposed, we proceed to perform the pulpectomy, that is, the total removal of the damaged pulp. Then it is cleaned, the cavity is enlarged and the pulp chamber and the root ducts are shaped to finally fill the cavity temporarily.
At the next visit, the temporary material is removed and the pulp chamber and the root canal are permanently restored, and then a conical rubber material is inserted into the canal to seal it completely. In some cases a plastic rod is also placed as a structural support.
Finally, a prefabricated piece, called a crown, is placed on the tooth to restore its natural shape and appearance. Any dental piece subjected to this dental procedure can last a lifetime if it is properly cared for, although since the tooth does not have the pulp that kept it alive, it certainly becomes brittle and is prone to fractures.
Root canal treatments are safe, but they are not exempt from complications, despite the fact that after the procedure, the tooth is considered a dead tooth. Situations such as the presence of a crack in the root of the tooth that has not been detected in time, a defective restoration or the breakdown of the inner sealing material, can cause bacteria to enter the area.
And this presence of bacteria is quite common. Not in vain the American Dental Association has openly stated that microbes remain in the dental canals of the parts treated with endodontics, although they emphasize that this does not represent a threat to the patient's health.
But beyond the risks, the truth is that thanks to dental advances the root canal is no longer a painful procedure, but a reliable resource to save a sick tooth and help maintain a complete and healthy smile.
When a decay or other situation significantly damages a tooth, it is possible that the only option to save it is a root canal treatment, a procedure that is practiced 41,000 times a day in our country, according to reports the American Association of Endodontics.
This procedure, also called endodontic therapy, aims to remove bacteria and dead or decaying nervous tissue from the inside of an affected tooth, removing its pulp and sealing the space with inert material to prevent the loss of the tooth.
The origins of this treatment date back to the seventeenth century, although the most important reference in this regard is the American specialist in therapy of root canals, Harry B. Johnston, who coined the term endodontics, which comes from the Greek words "endo" , which translates as inside, and "odontos" which means tooth.
Currently, this term gives name to a dental specialty recognized since 1963 by the American Dental Association.
The dreaded therapy, because it can involve several sessions, is applied to fractured teeth or with deep caries that present an infection that significantly damages the pulp tissue, making the total removal of it the only possible therapeutic option.
The lesion in the dental pulp, known as pulpitis, causes a continuous and permanent pain that increases in contact with cold, heat, and sweet or acid foods. It is a delicate condition that requires immediate attention to prevent damage to the bone surrounding the tooth and major complications.
Step by Step
Root canal treatment can be somewhat uncomfortable because it involves a series of steps that involve several visits to the dentist. After routine examination and radiographs to confirm the internal situation of the dental piece involved, the process begins with the perforation of the piece.
Once the ducts are exposed, we proceed to perform the pulpectomy, that is, the total removal of the damaged pulp. Then it is cleaned, the cavity is enlarged and the pulp chamber and the root ducts are shaped to finally fill the cavity temporarily.
At the next visit, the temporary material is removed and the pulp chamber and the root canal are permanently restored, and then a conical rubber material is inserted into the canal to seal it completely. In some cases a plastic rod is also placed as a structural support.
Finally, a prefabricated piece, called a crown, is placed on the tooth to restore its natural shape and appearance. Any dental piece subjected to this dental procedure can last a lifetime if it is properly cared for, although since the tooth does not have the pulp that kept it alive, it certainly becomes brittle and is prone to fractures.
Risky alternative
Root canal treatments are safe, but they are not exempt from complications, despite the fact that after the procedure, the tooth is considered a dead tooth. Situations such as the presence of a crack in the root of the tooth that has not been detected in time, a defective restoration or the breakdown of the inner sealing material, can cause bacteria to enter the area.
And this presence of bacteria is quite common. Not in vain the American Dental Association has openly stated that microbes remain in the dental canals of the parts treated with endodontics, although they emphasize that this does not represent a threat to the patient's health.
But beyond the risks, the truth is that thanks to dental advances the root canal is no longer a painful procedure, but a reliable resource to save a sick tooth and help maintain a complete and healthy smile.
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