Accidental dental damage

Posted on: 19 December 2017

Sometimes referred to by dental practitioners as endodontic therapy, root canal treatment is a procedure that is undertaken in order to deal with a tooth that has become so damaged that its pulp has become infected. The pulp of a tooth lies inside the outer casing of hard enamel and can be extremely sensitive if exposed. For patients who are suffering from severe toothache as a result of the corrosive effects of sugar, root canal treatment can offer a much-desired solution. Not only does the therapy often save a tooth which might otherwise need to be pulled out by a dentist, but it can mean that suffering from high levels of pain is dealt with under what is a relatively short procedure, nowadays. What does the treatment mean for patients?

Tissue Removal

Essentially, dentists will remove the inside section of a problematic tooth so that it can no longer remain infected. The inner part of a tooth is full of naturally occurring entities, such as blood vessels and nerve tissue. If removed and replaced by something else, then the outer part of the tooth can continue to function properly for many years to come. Because what remains on the inside of the tooth is not a natural substance, there is no chance for the infection to survive.

Obturation

For dentists, obturation is the process of filling the inner part of a tooth. Once the canal, or channel, within a tooth has been emptied of its tissues, it needs to be filled with something that will fill the void. After cleaning, you dentist is likely to fill the tooth with an epoxy-based resin. Gutta-percha is another material that is sometimes employed for the purpose of obturation. It is a naturally occurring type of latex which is produced by a number of trees, in the form of sap.

Modern Endotonic Procedures

In the past, dentists would frequently sedate patients when conducting root canal treatment. In severe cases, where several teeth were being treated, it was not unknown for a surgical procedure to take place. These days, dental instrumentation has improved to such an extent that such measures are rarely called for. Patients can expect a local anaesthetic to be administered. Most root canal procedures take a little over an hour and few go on for longer than two. Dental practitioners who specialise in the latest root canal treatment methods are referred to as endodontists.

Talk to your dentist to learn more.