Endodontics: The endodontic is a dental treatment commonly known to “kill the nerve.” It consists of removing the deep part of the tooth when it is injured or infected. The objective of this treatment is to clean the inside of the tooth and fill it with an inert material.
The treatment carried out under local anesthesia, so it is not painful. If it is true that, once the effect of anesthesia has ended, the patient could feel some discomfort when chewing for the following days. The term endodontics is also used synonymously with endodontology, a branch of stomatology that deals with dental pulp diseases.
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Table of Contents
Why its Done?
The endodontic indicates when a very extensive caries or a dental fracture has caused inflammation or death of the dental pulp. The treatment carried out to keep the tooth healthy is helpful for chewing, avoiding having to extract the tooth.
If this treatment not carried out, it can lead to tooth loss, the spread of the infection to the blood, facial cellulitis, or Ludwig’s angina and osteomyelitis, among other pathologies.
What Does it Consist of?
The technique consists of extracting the nerve, cleaning the root canal, and sealing it with a thermoplastic material (gutta-percha) and cement or another filling material. The intervention would planned using local anesthesia when it has already decided that the appropriate treatment would be a root canal. Next, a hole made in the tooth’s crown, and the pulp is accessed to extract it and isolate the tooth from the body. Afterward, the ducts cleaned and closed. After the intervention, an X-ray carried out to verify that everything had gone correctly. In most cases, the treatment can carried out in a single session, although it may be necessary to carry out two or more sessions in some others.
Root Canal Preparation
The first thing we would have to consider is the diagnosis by a specialist in dentistry and stomatology. In addition, before undergoing this treatment. the patient should know that he exposed to certain risks such as abscess, tooth loss, or nerve damage.
Care After the Intervention
After treatment, the patient may feel pain or swelling. To relieve it, you can take an anti-inflammatory drug. After root canal treatment, several radiographs required to ensure the accuracy of the result.
Most people can get back into their daily routine the day after treatment. The patient must avoid rough chewing on the area until the tooth permanently filled.
Alternatives to This Treatment
There are no alternative treatments to endodontics since extracting the affected tooth and placing an implant would be the only alternative. In this case, the tooth would lost, so it is a solution that few specialists in Dentistry and Stomatology recommend. Nowadays, studies show a promising future and are open to treatments preserving the tooth and regenerating the pulp.
It is essential to educate patients about oral hygiene to avoid pathologies such as cavities or oral diseases. In addition, we must not forget the periodic visits to the dentist as a preventive measure to prevent this type of procedure.
