ENDODONTICS

Endodontics is a specialized type of dentistry responsible for diagnosis and treatment of oral pain involving the tooth pulp and periradicular area (just outside or around the root of the tooth origin). Tooth pulp is the soft tissue that contains nerves, blood vessels and connective tissues, runs through the hard tissue inside the tooth (dentin) and extends from the crown (top) of the tooth down to the tip of the root in the jaw bone.

The endodontists at Previdente dental clinics use the latest technologies, such as radiovisiography, latest generation apical locators, microscope assisted endodontics and mechanized rotating systems to facilitate the cleaning and conformation of the root canal treatment on both adults and children.

THE ENDODONTIC TREATMENT PLAN

Root canal treatment is a dental procedure that replaces a tooth’s damaged or infected pulp with a filling saving the tooth and avoiding extraction. In case you may need a root canal, we will first take X-rays and examine where the decay or trauma is located. The actual procedure itself is done under local anesthesia and under a sheet of latex called the “rubber dam” placed around the tooth to isolate it, hence keeping it clean and dry during treatment. An opening is made and the diseased tooth pulp is treated. It all depends on the degree of infection/inflammation and degree of treatment difficulty which may lead to more than one session.

Finally, all the canals and pulp chamber of the tooth are filled with gutta-percha material and sealed off with cement to prevent bacteria from entering. Such procedures are considered highly complexes on a technical level. Following the endodontic treatment, the tooth can be restored or even rehabilitated at a prosthetic level.

With proper care, even teeth that have had root canal treatment can last a lifetime, maintaining its position, function and aesthetics, however, a tooth that has been treated and doesn’t heal properly can become painful or diseased months or even years after treatment, in this case it is essential to repeat the treatment, which is referred to as endodontic retreatment.