How Is Root Canal Treatment Performed? | Endodontics
In deep caries or in teeth that are exposed to trauma and broken, the living tissue of the tooth called pulp (dental nerve) is opened to the oral environment.
In such cases, it is necessary to remove the pulp completely from the roots of the tooth. Otherwise, the pulp becomes inflamed and causes pain.
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Is Root Canal Treatment Performed For Every Sore Tooth?
Toothache can be of very different severity. Especially pain that wakes you up at night strengthens the possibility of root canal treatment.
Nevertheless, it is not possible to tell the treatment required for the teeth without a radiographic and clinical examination.
After removing the infected pulp, the tooth roots are cleaned, washed and then filled with root fillings.
This process is called Root Canal Treatment.
The aim of this treatment is to relieve toothache and prevent tooth loss.
Treatment Summary
This content is for informational purposes only. For detailed information, you can contact us via WhatsApp or by filling out the free consultation form.
As with all teeth, you need to do the necessary cleaning for your root canal treated tooth. Teeth should be brushed twice a day and control sessions should be followed at intervals deemed appropriate by your dentist.
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Can Root Canal Treatment be Postponed in Teeth with Pain Relief with Drug Treatment?
Postponed root canal treatments may cause the inflammation in the tooth root to expand beyond treatment and even damage the neighbouring teeth. Especially toothaches that cause abscesses cause swelling in certain parts of the face.
In order to prevent such situations, seeing your dentist before the situation progresses will directly affect the success of the treatment.
How is Root Canal Treatment Performed?
Special equipment is used for root canal treatment performed under local anaesthesia. The root of the tooth is reached, the area is cleaned and covered with a filling or crown. It takes approximately 30 to 60 minutes and if done correctly, no pain is felt during the procedure.
What Should Be Considered After Root Canal Treatment?
After root canal treatment, the following points should be considered to ensure a healthy recovery process:
- Avoid biting hard or crusty foods until the root canal treatment is completed.
- Continue your daily oral hygiene routine without interruption, brushing your teeth gently with circular motions at least twice a day. This is essential for both oral health and post-treatment recovery.
- Flossing should be done at least once a day to prevent potential infections. It is recommended to follow your dentist’s advice on flossing techniques.
- Sugary and sticky foods should be limited after treatment as they can lead to tooth decay. Sugar is found not only in sweets but also in many packaged products and beverages.
- Pain relief sprays or medications should be used regularly as prescribed by your dentist. If the pain relievers are not sufficient, consult your dentist as soon as possible.
After the treatment, there might be slight pain and sensitivity for 2-3 days. If necessary, your dentist will prescribe painkillers. After a successful root canal treatment, your tooth will be as healthy as the untreated teeth.
How Long Does Root Canal Treatment Take?
If your root canal treated tooth becomes infected, the recovery and healing process can take anywhere from 6 months to 24 months. However, this does not mean you will always feel pain. On the contrary, during this period, your body undergoes a healing process to get rid of the infection that bothers the tooth and replace it with healthy tissue.
If the infection has not spread to your tooth, the full healing of the root canal treatment may take between 1 week to 3 weeks. In this case, the inner canals of the tooth may be infected, but the surrounding tissues have not yet been infected.
However, it should be noted that the surrounding tissues may be prone to infection in the future.
In Which Cases Should Root Canal Treatment Be Performed?
Not every tooth that is decayed or painful requires root canal treatment. To apply treatment, there must be a mild pain signaling or a decay caused by bacteria that does not cause any pain. If the tooth is not treated at this stage, bacteria can progress to the core of the tooth and cause inflammation, in which case root canal treatment is necessary.
Some signs that indicate the need for root canal treatment are:
- Severe tooth pain when pressure or chewing
- Sensitivity to cold or heat (pain)
- Tooth discoloration
- Sensitivity and swelling in nearby gums
What Causes Toothache After Root Canal Treatment?
Although root canal treatment is known to be a painful procedure, it is not more painful than a regular filling treatment. The pain, sensitivity, and discomfort felt are caused by the existing infection and inflammation. In the first few days after the completion of the root canal treatment, especially if an infection has been cleaned, there may be sensitivity in the surrounding tissue. This pain can be controlled with the pain relief medications recommended by your dentist.
What are the Stages of Root Canal Treatment?
Root canal treatment in general;
- Numbing the area to be treated with local anesthesia,
- Cleaning and disinfecting the pulp and canals,
- Temporary filling,
- Re-checking the tooth and, if necessary, re-cleaning it,
- It is completed with permanent filling stages.
Frequently Asked Questions
You can take a look at the frequently asked questions of our patients and contact us for any other questions you may have.
Root canal treatment is necessary in cases of severe tooth decay, pain or infection. The bacteria inside the tooth need to be cleaned and treated.
Root canal treatment is generally painless because local anesthesia is applied during the procedure. However, some patients may experience mild tenderness after the treatment.
The healing process of root canal treatment usually takes between 1 and 3 weeks. However, for infected teeth, the healing period can vary between 6 and 24 months.
There may be some mild pain or tenderness for the first few days. This is related to the healing process of inflammation and infection in the treated area.
After root canal treatment, hard and crusty foods should be avoided, and hot and acidic foods should not be consumed. Soft, warm foods should be preferred.
You can start brushing your tooth gently 2-3 days after the root canal treatment. However, you should be careful not to put direct pressure on the treatment area.
Root canal treatment ensures that the tooth remains healthy for a long time, but it is important to have a protective coating on the treated tooth. The treatment usually lasts for many years.
Stitches are not usually required after root canal treatment, but if surgery is required during the procedure, your dentist may place stitches and these will be removed within 1 week.
