Endodontics

WHAT IS ENDODONTICS?

Endodontics (root canals) consists of the elimination of the dental pulp or “nerve” of the tooth when it becomes inflamed or infected. This may be due to different causes such as deep cavities, trauma, fractures or fissures …

Dental pain is the main cause of a visit to the dentist, and often corresponds to pain of pulpal origin. When the damage produced in the pulp by any of the processes described above is irreversible, endodontic treatment is carried out.

In endodontics, the diseased pulp and all the germs that may be contaminating the interior of the tooth are eliminated. The created space is filled with a stable material, well tolerated by the body that has will prevent further contamination.

After performing endodontics, it is necessary to proceed to the adequate reconstruction of the treated tooth to prevent possible fractures and leaks that could contaminate the treatment carried out.

FREQUENT QUESTIONS

IS IT A COMPLEX AND PAINFUL TREATMENT?

The difficulty of the treatment varies according to the tooth to be treated. It is better that a dentist specialized in endodontics treat the more complicated cases.
Local anesthesia should be administered in most cases and therefore it is not painful.

The elimination of the pulp is done by mechanical, chemical and manual methods with special instruments; the emptied and sterilized ducts are then filled with a material that seals them tightly; Several X-rays are necessary to ensure the accuracy of the result.

CAN I HAVE PROBLEMS AFTER TREATMENT?

The first days after root canal treatment, the treated tooth may be sensitive to chewing, but usually this discomfort goes way with common analgesics. If there is an infection prior to the treatment of the tooth, it is usual to administer antibiotics before treatment. In these cases, and only occasionally, there may be an inflammation of the area that subsides with anti-inflammatories.

Some teeth may fracture if they are severely weakened by cavities that caused the disease of the pulp. Therefore, they must be rebuilt and perhaps protected with an inlay or a crown.

In any case it is necessary to follow the instructions of the professional who has performed the treatment.

IS A TOOTH WITH A ROOT CANAL FOR LIFE?

Although in many cases this is the case, in an absolute sense there is nothing that lasts forever.

WITH NEW ADVANCES IS ENDODONTICS STILL USEFUL?

It is clear that implants are solving many problems that could not be solved in the past, but endodontics has as its fundamental objective the preservation of the natural tooth. There is nothing better than keeping your own natural teeth.

Clinical case nº1

Clinical case nº2

Clinical case nº3

Due to an old trauma, the root of the upper left central incisor did not develop correctly. Thanks to the biocompatible materials that we have, it was possible to eliminate the infectious and regenerative focus to the bone around the root.

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after

A recurrence of a cavity under an old composite has caused the necrosis or death of the pulp of the left upper premolar. Thanks to endodontics, the focus of root infection has been cured.

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after

Endodontics performed more than 10 years ago in a lower molar under a bridge gives signs and symptoms of failure with an image of bone loss around the tip of the root. A new endodontic treatment performed with the equipment that we have today has resolved the focus.

Before

after