Endodontics (Root Canal Treatment)

Endodontics is a branch of dentistry that deals with the diagnosis, etiology, prevention, and treatment of diseases of the teeth, tooth roots, and surrounding tissues.

Root canal treatment is applied in cases where the vascular and nerve community under the enamel and dentin layers of the tooth, called “pulp”, which provides the vitality of the tooth, is damaged or injured, unable to repair itself again, and loses its vitality (necrosis). The treatment of toothache, severe cold-hot sensitivity, dental abscesses, discolored teeth and teeth damaged by accidents fall within the scope of endodontic treatment. Root canal treatment is the process of removing inflamed or dead tooth pulp from the root canals, sterilizing it, and completely filling this cavity with a substance that is not harmful to health.

With deep caries, the pulp (vascular nerve bundle) cannot heal itself and the infection can spread to the root tip. If root canal treatment is not applied to such a tooth, it may cause inflammation at the root end of the tooth in the future and may damage the jawbone. Surgical intervention or tooth extraction may be required. In summary, the aim of endodontics is to treat a tooth with impaired health and to keep it in the mouth aesthetically and functionally.

How is the endodontic treatment performed?

When endodontic treatment, i.e. root canal treatment is performed, the entrance cavity to the pulp, i.e. the connective tissue of the tooth, is prepared first. During this procedure, the tooth is under anesthesia and the patient has the feeling that he/she is having a filling, he/she does not feel any additional pain. If the tooth is decayed, it is cleaned and the cavity is organized. Then, the canal lengths are determined by apex locater and x-ray films. The inside of the channels at the specified lengths are cleaned mechanically and chemically.

Depending on the condition of the tooth, canal filling is started after root cleaning is completed in a few sessions, sometimes by making dressings in a single session. The purpose of filling the canal after cleaning is to provide full sealing and mechanical support by completely isolating it from the root end of the canal and the intraoral part. After the canal filling is done, the treatment of the visible part of the tooth in the mouth is completed with a method suitable for the remaining tissue of the tooth, such as filling, coating or inlay/onlay applications. Thus, the canal of the tooth is cleaned and filled in a way that does not allow microbial entry again.

After the treatment, it is expected that the pre-existing lesions and pain at the root tip will gradually decrease and heal. Sensitivity may occur at the root tip of the tooth for a while after root canal treatment applications.