ENDODONTICS
Root canal treatment
Endodontics (commonly referred to as a "root canal" treatment) is the specialty of dentistry that is concerned with the study and treatment of the pulp of a tooth (dental nerve). The treatment is indicated in the case of its irreversible inflamation, caused by the bacterial contamination (caries) or trauma.
Acute or chronic inflammation could diffuse through the apex of the root. Apical periodontitis is typically the body’s defense response to the threat of microbial invasion from the root canal, resulting in abscess or granuloma. This is an absolute indication for root canal treatment to prevent the tooth extraction. The indications is also the previous but incomplete treatment (incompletely cleaned canals).
Endodontic therapy includes one or two visits. To remove the infected pulp tissue long needle-shaped drills are used (manual or machine) during local anaesthesia. The subsequent cleaning and shaping provide decontamination and easy obturation of the canals with an inert filling such as gutta percha and cement. After receiving a root canal treatment a pain could occure during the next 2-3 days. In such a case an analgesic should be prescribed.
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