Endodontics Center

Root Canal Treatment

Endodontic treatment is necessary when inflammation develops in the soft tissue (pulp) inside the tooth canals.

Endodontic Treatment

Endodontic treatment is required when inflammation occurs in the pulp located inside the tooth canals. The goal of this treatment is to eliminate microorganisms and protect the tooth and surrounding tissues from infection. The infection may be caused by deep tooth decay, repeated dental procedures, or a cracked or fractured tooth.

The pulp consists of nerves, blood vessels, and connective tissue. When these are affected by infection, the tooth may become painful, develop pus, and the nerves and blood vessels may die, making the tooth non-vital. In addition, bacteria can spread to surrounding tissues and start dissolving the jawbone.

Root canal treatment helps preserve the natural tooth. A successfully treated tooth can usually function for many years. With continuous advancements in endodontic techniques, tooth extraction is becoming less necessary. In most cases, all teeth can be treated—very rarely are the root canals inaccessible. Therefore, before extracting a tooth, it is important to consult a specialist familiar with modern endodontic methods.

• Healthy tooth with intact pulp
• Pulp inflammation/abscess caused by decay
• Cleaning of the root canals removes damaged pulp and microbes
• Cleaned canals are filled with gutta-percha

Important to Remember!

If you experience pain, prolonged sensitivity to heat or cold, discomfort when chewing, gum swelling, or notice changes in tooth color—these may be signs that the tooth canals are affected and endodontic treatment is needed. However, in some cases, there may be no noticeable symptoms at all.

Root Canal Treatment Procedure

After performing a radiograph, the dentist evaluates the condition of the tooth. Using modern techniques and materials, endodontic treatment is usually successful. The duration depends on the severity of the root canal damage.

During treatment:

• The tooth is anesthetized and isolated from saliva
• The crown of the tooth is opened
• The inflamed pulp is carefully removed
• If infection is present, the canal is treated with medication
• The cleaned canal is thoroughly disinfected and sealed hermetically using a special filling material called gutta-percha, which flows into even the smallest canal branches
• The cavity in the crown is restored with a permanent filling

Afterward, the crown of the tooth must be restored promptly with restorative material or a crown. Teeth that have undergone root canal treatment are often recommended to be crowned to strengthen them.

Is Retreatment Necessary?

In the past, root canals were often filled with less suitable and less biocompatible materials, and proper radiographic diagnostics were not always performed. For this reason, retreatment may sometimes be required, which involves removing the existing filling material from the canal and performing the procedure again.