CANAL TREATMENT
What is Root Canal Treatment?
Endodontic
treatment, that is, root canal treatment, is the process of removing
the pulp tissue that is inflamed for various reasons or infected by
the settlement of microorganisms, and cleaning, shaping and filling
the canal space with tissue-friendly canal fillers. This set of
procedures is defined as root canal treatment. Root canal treatment
is a method applied in cases where the tooth root is affected as a
result of caries or various traumas. The aim here is to prevent tooth
loss and to ensure that the tooth remains active in the jawbone by
performing its normal functions.
In what cases is root canal treatment performed?
Root
canal treatment is applied when there is decay in the tooth or cracks
in the dental bone. In addition, in cases where the tooth is
seriously damaged, root canal treatment can be applied to save the
dead tooth and prevent loss of bone structure.
The
tooth consists of 3 main layers. The outermost enamel of the tooth
and the dentin layer underneath it form the hard surfaces of the
tooth. On the inner surface of the tooth, there is a living pulp
layer containing the vessels and nerves that nourish the tooth. When
tooth decay passes through all these layers and reaches down to the
pulp, an infection develops in the tooth. This means that the pulp is
damaged and the nerves there die.
Root
canal treatment is a treatment performed to avoid losing a tooth.
Tooth loss may cause that area to lose activity and cause the jaw
bone to melt. In addition, tooth loss can negatively affect the
patient in terms of aesthetics, social and psychological aspects.
Root canal treatment is the process of cleaning the caries caused by
the infection that progresses to the pulp and tooth root canals,
shaping the canals, and then filling the canal in a way that leaves
no entryway. The purpose here is to prevent the passage of material
from the tip of the tooth root into the mouth and from within the
mouth to the tip of the root. In very advanced cases, the infection
can also affect the jaw bone.
How make is root treatment?
During
root canal treatment, if the decay in a tooth has progressed to the
pulp layer, all the canals in the tooth are cleaned, disinfected and
filled with medications and various methods. Treatment may take
longer depending on the extent of the infection in the tooth.
Temporary fillings are used until the infection in the tooth is
treated. Each tooth contains a different number of canals. When the
decay reaches the pulp, all of the canals of the tooth must be
treated. The incisors located in the front of the mouth generally
have a single channel, the premolars have 2 channels, and the large
molars can have 3-4 channels. The number of channels in the tooth may
vary from person to person. Each root can be considered as a canal,
but sometimes there may be extra canals.
How is Root Canal Treatment Diagnosed?
Since
every tooth has a pulp, root canal treatment can be applied to every
tooth. The dentist can often decide whether a root canal treatment is
required or not as a result of a physical examination. X-ray is
another option that helps in diagnosis. In the x-ray, the number of
canals the tooth has and the length of the canal are determined.