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Endo
dontics is the field of dentistry dealing with the cause, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of diseases of the dental pulp, usually by removal of the nerve and other tissue of the pulp cavity and its replacement with a suitable filling material.
Endodontists are trained to assess, diagnose and treat conditions affecting the teeth and the periradicular tissues. If appropriate, the Endodontist will recommend you keep your tooth in question. Using special equipment and tools, the procedure is more efficient. Endodontists provide a more predictable outcome for the Endodontic treatment.
The process of cleaning and filling the entire root canal system to restore health and function is called Endodontic treatment. Not only is it important to seal the canals but to provide a top or coronal seal. Even the best root canal treatment will fail if bacteria manages to ingress the root canal system. Hence it is imperative you see your dentist for a crown or a coronal filling after the Endodontic treatment has been completed to ensure a good long-term prognosis.
Endodontic treatment is a painless procedure performed under local anaesthetic. The tooth is isolated using a rubber dam to avoid ingress of bacteria during treatment. Once found, the canals need to be cleaned and shaped so subsequently they can be filled. Endodontic treatment is a technically complicated procedure. Typically the procedure takes 2-3 visits. Infected cases require a few weeks of an antibiotic dressing. Once healing occurs, the canals can be sealed using a permanent filling. Since healing involves inflammation, discomfort following root canal treatment should be expected. In some cases pain management medication if necessary. Root canal treatment has a high success rate. To ensure long-term success, it is imperative that you return to your general dentist promptly for a crown or a coronal restoration.
A tooth with a previous root canal treatment can fail due to several reasons. Teeth have complex anatomical features including accessory canals, curvatures and canal blockages. Endodontic treatment can be a technically challenging procedure. Endodontic treatments can fail due to technical deficiencies or re-contamination. A tooth with an adequate Endodontic treatment will fail if bacteria manages to access the root canals. A failing filling, a crack or caries can lead for bacteria to ingress the tooth; consequently, it will break down the root canal filling, causing infection and pain. In those cases endodontic re-treatment is necessary. Re-treatment cases can be more challenging and can have a reduced success rate.
If you have questions for our team at JCV endodontics, please don’t hesitate to contact us.