What is Root Canal Treatment?

Nerves and blood vessels of a tooth (the dental pulp) may lose viability due to various reasons and they may get inflamed after they are infected by microorganisms. Root canal treatment implies removal of infected nerve, re-shaping the interior part of tooth, disinfecting the target are and filling the canal with fillers.

When is root canal treatment required?

• Deep decays that had extended to the nerve,
• Recurrent and deepened decays beneath previous fillers or prostheses,
• Damage to the nerve in patients with severe bruxism or habitual teeth grinding,
• Fractures extending to the nerve due to trauma,
• Advanced stage periodontal (gingival) diseases,
• Elimination of sensitivity secondary to severe abrasion of the teeth,
• Prosthetic restoration of crooked teeth,
• Loss of viability in dental pulps due to any reason. Root canal treatment is required for above written conditions.

What are indications of root canal treatment?

• Spontaneous severe pain in your teeth,
• Long-standing severe pain when exposed to cold and hot or when you close your teeth.
• Spontaneous severe pain especially at night,
• Brownish discoloration in your tooth,
• Swelling around teeth or in your face,
• A pimple-like lesion in gums and a purulent fistula,
• Its necessity can be incidentally understood in dental and radiological examinations in some cases, even if you have no complaint.

Do patients feel pain during or after root canal treatment?

You will not feel pain, as target tooth is numbed with local anesthesia before root canal treatment. You may sometimes have mild pain and sensitivity while chewing foods after root canal treatment. Patients can take pain killer after treatment, if advised by dentist.

What should be taken into account after root canal treatment?

You should not eat or drink anything before effects of anesthesia wear off completely. Root canal treatment may require several sessions in some cases. It is necessary to avoid solid and sticky foods in dental area subject to the treatment and to prevent detachment of the temporary filler.

Is it necessary to take antibiotic agent during root canal treatment?

Antibiotherapy is not required in all root canal treatments. However, antibiotic agent(s) can be prescribed in case of severe or refractory infection or post-treatment pain or flare-up and resultant swelling.

May it be necessary to repeat root canal treatment?

Success rate is 90-95% in root canal treatment that is performed at optimal conditions. However, root canal treatment is repeated in case of toothache during eating, spontaneous pain and swelling in root tip.