Endodontics is the area of dentistry that studies and is dedicated to the treatment of pathologies associated with the nerves and blood vessels (the dental pulp) located inside the teeth and the area surrounding the roots.
Endodontic treatment (known as root canal treatment or root canal treatment) consists of disinfecting and filling the tooth's root canal system. When there is pulppathology, that is, when the “nerve” is inflamed or infected, the root canals must be prepared and disinfected to be filled with a material that forms a correct seal and prevents bacterial contamination.
Endodontic treatment is indicated in situations of very deep tooth decay, tooth fracture or trauma and in some cases of severe wear.
There are also some signs and/or symptoms such as acute cold or hot pain that does not disappear, pain when chewing, spontaneous pain or the presence of an abscess or fistula lesion (small ball in the gum near a tooth) that should be evaluated in a consultation of Endodontics. During this consultation, the dentist assesses the patient's situation and makes a diagnosis - x-rays and clinical diagnostic exams are carried out with the aim of evaluating the condition of the dental pulp and the tissues surrounding the tooth.
Endodontic treatment is performed under local anesthesia to ensure patient comfort and absence of pain. The procedure consists of accessing the inside of the tooth through its crown. The canals are then mechanically and chemically disinfected using new technologies - mechanized files, apex locator, sonic irrigation. Finally, the canal system is completely filled with biocompatible material using the latest technologies -thermoplastic filling with gutta-percha. The procedure takes place under absolute isolation (rubber dam that isolates the tooth to be treated from the rest of the oral cavity) to guarantee patient safety.
Magnification is used to facilitate visualization and improve the prognosis of the treatments performed. Technological advances in dentistry allow endodontic treatments to be increasingly predictable and with high success rates.
After endodontic treatment, it is essential to carry out the final definitive reconstruction to maintain the structural resistance of the tooth and prevent reinfection from occurring. These precautions are important for long-term success.