Root canal treatment at the dentist

Treatment of the tooth root may be necessary if it has become inflamed due to bacteria and leads to severe tooth pain. In most cases, this happens when caries bacteria have worked their way into the inside of the tooth and attack the tooth root – or when parts of the tooth have broken off in an accident, leaving the tooth root exposed.

Inflammation of the tooth root (so-called pulpitis) is extremely painful. If not treated in time with a root canal, the inflammation can pose a significant health risk. As soon as the inflammation has spread to the jaw bone, it can also lead to diseases that are dangerous for other body organs, such as inflammation of the inner lining of the heart (so-called pericarditis).

During the dental treatment, the inflamed root canal is cleaned, provided with a medicinal inlay and finally filled with a special compound. The aim of treatment is to preserve the tooth. Depending on the situation, it may be necessary to replace the tooth with a root post and/or a filling, an inlay/onlay or a crown to further stabilize it.

Background: Endodontics, also known as endodontology, is the study of the inside of the tooth. The term is derived from the Greek word “endon” = inside. The dentist rarely uses the technical term “endodontics”, but rather speaks of “root canal treatment”, although strictly speaking the treatment does not only concentrate on the root, but is aimed at the entire interior of the tooth, the dental pulp.

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Root canal treatment at the dentist

Treatment of the tooth root may be necessary if it has become inflamed due to bacteria and leads to severe tooth pain. In most cases, this happens when caries bacteria have worked their way into the inside of the tooth and attack the tooth root – or when parts of the tooth have broken off in an accident, leaving the tooth root exposed.

Inflammation of the tooth root (so-called pulpitis) is extremely painful. If not treated in time with a root canal, the inflammation can pose a significant health risk. As soon as the inflammation has spread to the jaw bone, it can also lead to diseases that are dangerous for other body organs, such as inflammation of the inner lining of the heart (so-called pericarditis).

During the dental treatment, the inflamed root canal is cleaned, provided with a medicinal inlay and finally filled with a special compound. The aim of treatment is to preserve the tooth. Depending on the situation, it may be necessary to replace the tooth with a root post and/or a filling, an inlay/onlay or a crown to further stabilize it.

Background: Endodontics, also known as endodontology, is the study of the inside of the tooth. The term is derived from the Greek word “endon” = inside. The dentist rarely uses the technical term “endodontics”, but rather speaks of “root canal treatment”, although strictly speaking the treatment does not only concentrate on the root, but is aimed at the entire interior of the tooth, the dental pulp.

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Symptoms and causes of pulpitis

If caries bacteria have attacked a tooth and work their way down to the root of the tooth nerve, the root canal becomes inflamed and so-called pulpitis occurs. Root inflammation can also occur as a result of an accident in which the tooth was damaged and bacteria entered the canal in this way.

Symptoms of an inflamed tooth nerve:

Sudden, spontaneous toothache
Pain when biting
Throbbing
Swollen gums around the painful tooth
Sensitivity to cold and especially to heat

If you notice any of the above signs, you should contact your dentist in Zug as soon as possible.

Dental replacements can also be a reason for root canal treatment. If the patient is planning to have a crown or bridge fitted, in some cases (e.g. very badly worn teeth) the necessary reduction of the tooth substance can result in the pulp being exposed. This means that bacteria can easily penetrate the tooth root and cause inflammation. In such a case, the pulp is completely removed to prevent such a complication and to ensure the lasting value of the crown or bridge.

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How is a root canal treatment performed?

A complete root canal treatment is carried out in 2 steps, a few weeks apart. after the symptoms have subsided. Overall, the treatment is not painful and is usually carried out with the help of local anesthesia. However, patients with severe fear can find out about the possibility of having the root canal treatment carried out under sedation or nitrous oxide.

1st part:

Removal of carious tooth substance

If the procedure is due to a carious infection, your dentists-team will first remove the carious tooth substance under local anesthesia as first part of the root canal treatment. Preparation also includes providing access to the inflamed pulp through a central hole in the chewing surface.

Preparation of the root canal

The root canal is then carefully enlarged using the finest work so that the cleaning can be carried out as thoroughly as possible right down to the root tip. The dentist prepares the canal by removing the infected pulp from the root canal and rinsing the resulting cavities several times with a disinfectant solution. In this way, the inside of the tooth is cleaned and freed from tissue residues.

Medicated insert

The final step is the application of the medicated insert and temporary closure of the tooth.

In the first few days after treatment, pain usually decreases continuously. However, due to various reasons (such as the number of bacteria, the patient’s immune system etc.), the symptoms may increase again after an initial improvement. Therefore, the process of disinfection and insertion might extend over several sessions until the tooth is completely symptom-free and the patient no longer has any complaints.

2nd part:

Root filling

Around 2-4 weeks later, or as soon as the patient no longer feels any discomfort, the root canals of the tooth are cleaned one last time by your dentist-team and filled with a special bacteria-proof material. This root filling prevents bacteria from re-entering the root canal system. Finally, the tooth itself is also provided with a definitive filling to close the access to the root canals.

Your dentist will check and document the healing process at regular intervals over the next few years. After a root canal treatment, if the procedure is successful, there is usually no more pain as the tooth is no longer supplied with blood and the nerve has been removed.

If only the nerve of the tooth itself was inflamed and the bone and periodontium were not affected, the chances of success are good. However, they decrease significantly if bone dissolution has already been diagnosed. Every root treatment is therefore only an attempt to save the tooth, but unfortunately there is no guaranteed success.

How is a root canal treatment performed?

A complete root canal treatment is carried out in 2 steps, a few weeks apart. after the symptoms have subsided. Overall, the treatment is not painful and is usually carried out with the help of local anesthesia. However, patients with severe fear can find out about the possibility of having the root canal treatment carried out under sedation or nitrous oxide.

1st part:

Removal of carious tooth substance

If the procedure is due to a carious infection, your dentists-team will first remove the carious tooth substance under local anesthesia as first part of the root canal treatment. Preparation also includes providing access to the inflamed pulp through a central hole in the chewing surface.

Preparation of the root canal

The root canal is then carefully enlarged using the finest work so that the cleaning can be carried out as thoroughly as possible right down to the root tip. The dentist prepares the canal by removing the infected pulp from the root canal and rinsing the resulting cavities several times with a disinfectant solution. In this way, the inside of the tooth is cleaned and freed from tissue residues.

Medicated insert

The final step is the application of the medicated insert and temporary closure of the tooth.

In the first few days after treatment, pain usually decreases continuously. However, due to various reasons (such as the number of bacteria, the patient’s immune system etc.), the symptoms may increase again after an initial improvement. Therefore, the process of disinfection and insertion might extend over several sessions until the tooth is completely symptom-free and the patient no longer has any complaints.

2nd part:

Root filling

Around 2-4 weeks later, or as soon as the patient no longer feels any discomfort, the root canals of the tooth are cleaned one last time by your dentist and closed with a special bacteria-proof filling material. This root filling prevents bacteria from re-entering the root canal system. Finally, the tooth itself is also provided with a definitive filling to close the access to the root canals.

Your dentist will check and document the healing process at regular intervals over the next few years. After a root canal treatment, if the procedure is successful, there is usually no more pain as the tooth is no longer supplied with blood and the nerve has been removed.

If only the nerve of the tooth itself was inflamed and the bone and periodontium were not affected, the chances of success are good. However, they decrease significantly if bone dissolution has already been diagnosed. Every root treatment is therefore only an attempt to save the tooth, but unfortunately there is no guaranteed success.

Dental crown after root canal treatment

If there is a large loss of substance, it may be advisable to stabilize the tooth with a crown after root canal treatment. As a result of root canal treatment, teeth not only lose a large part of their natural tooth substance, but are also no longer supplied with blood and therefore become weakened and more brittle. A dental crown supports the long-term preservation of the tooth.

Your dentist will discuss with you in detail whether such care is recommended or even necessary.

Root canal treatment in the presence of a crown

Teeth that have already been crowned may also require root canal treatment. Caries can develop under a crown, which can also lead to an infection of the tooth nerve. If the dentist wants to carry out a root canal treatment under a crown, there are various options. For example, it may be necessary to remove the crown before treatment or to drill it from above. Depending on the condition of the tooth and crown, the crown may need to be replaced after treatment.

Dental crown after root canal treatment

If there is a large loss of substance, it may be advisable to stabilize the tooth with a crown after root canal treatment. As a result of root canal treatment, teeth not only lose a large part of their natural tooth substance, but are also no longer supplied with blood and therefore become weakened and more brittle. A dental crown supports the long-term preservation of the tooth.

Your dentist will discuss with you in detail whether such care is recommended or even necessary.

Root canal treatment in the presence of a crown

Teeth that have already been crowned may also require root canal treatment. Caries can develop under a crown, which can also lead to an infection of the tooth nerve. If the dentist wants to carry out a root canal treatment under a crown, there are various options. For example, it may be necessary to remove the crown before treatment or to drill it from above. Depending on the condition of the tooth and crown, the crown may need to be replaced after treatment.

Possibilities in the event of renewed complaints

Unfortunately, root canal treatment is not always successful due to its complexity. The root canals in the teeth are finely branched and it is not always possible to completely treat all of the small side branches. Sometimes further treatment may be necessary, for example if symptoms recur or the x-ray shows renewed bone dissolution. This can happen after a few months, but also after years.

If the root canal treatment is carried out repeatedly, this is referred to as a so-called revision. A revision treatment basically has the same process as the root canal treatment itself. The main difference is that the old root filling material must first be removed from the root canals. However, depending on the material, the time required for this can be significant longer.
If revision treatment does not have the desired effect on the patient and inflammation occurs again, a so-called root tip resection can be considered. During this dental surgical procedure, the dentist opens the gums and the bone in the area of the root tip in order to treat the affected root from the outside. The root tip and the inflamed tissue are removed and the root canal is closed “from below” with a special filling compound. Bone and gums then have to heal.

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Cost of a root canal treatment

The costs of a root canal treatment are usually not covered by health insurance. Additional dental insurance contributes to the costs to varying degrees. These vary considerably and depend on numerous factors, such as the affected tooth. the number of root canals, the number of sessions necessary, the presence of anatomical peculiarities, but also crowns and fillings or whether complications arise during the treatment.
Would you like to make an appointment for a root canal treatment with the dentist? Please feel free to contact us!

For a bright & healthy smile!

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Root canal treatment at the dentist

Root canal treatment at the dentist

Symptoms and causes of pulpitis

How is a root canal treatment performed?

How is a root canal treatment performed?

Dental crown after root canal treatment

Root canal treatment in the presence of a crown

Dental crown after root canal treatment

Root canal treatment in the presence of a crown

Possibilities in the event of renewed complaints

Cost of a root canal treatment

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