Root canal treatment and endodontics

Toothache

Toothache can be a referred pain, and it is difficult to identify the source at first. You may be suffering from pain when tooth decay progresses, or because of gum and root tip inflammation. In such cases, when the correct treatment is applied, it is often possible to save the teeth. Laser-assisted treatments can provide fast and comfortable solutions.

Toothache should not be expected to go away on its own. Alternative methods known among the public do not work, and they are not recommended because they damage the teeth and surrounding tissues. If the pain is caused by tooth decay and the decay has progressed to the nerve of the tooth, or the tooth has lost its vitality due to other reasons, these teeth can be treated with "root canal treatment". If the necessary treatments are not applied, this situation may progress with infection, swelling and even abscess, and may lead to tooth extraction.

Pain can be caused by infection of the teeth and surrounding tissues, loss of bone tissue, or because of local irritations. You need to go to the dentist to remove the source of pain and save the tooth.

Canal treatment | endodonty

The main purpose of root canal treatments is to fill all the spaces in the root without leaving any residual space.

For root canal treatment to be successful, it is necessary to clean and fill all nerve spaces that cannot be reached with mechanical instruments. With the LASER/SWEEPS technique, which has been developed in recent years, the success of root canal treatment can be increased by clearing the remnants of nerves such as nerve extensions and filling these spaces with canal filling materials. In this way, it is possible to reduce the risk of infection, activating the therapeutic feature of the body’s biology and provide healthier more successful treatments.

Use of microscope in root canal treatment

Tooth roots can vary anatomically from person to person. For this reason, a different number of channels and shape can be seen within the root. Being able to see these channels in detail increases the success of the treatment. The main reason for the failure of the previous root canal treatments is that the nerve could not be removed from these canals and therefore the canal was not filled properly. In addition, it may be possible to detect and treat very small cracks and fracture lines using a microscope. These often cannot be seen even with the use of 3D imaging techniques.

Laser bio endodontics

In the root of the tooth, there are small canals next to the main canal. Most dental problems are due to the inability to clean these channels well.

With the laser PIPS/SWEEPS technique, it is possible to clean the most difficult and narrow channels by improving the biological tissue around the tooth and preventing new infection. In this method, unlike the classical method, the root tissues supporting the tooth are thinned very little. In this way, the risk of root fracture is also reduced.

Frequently asked questions about root canal treatment

How long does root canal treatment take?

Depending on the condition of the tooth, root canal treatment can be done in one or two sessions. For an infected tooth, several sessions may be required to ensure that the infection is completely eliminated. An uncomplicated root canal treatment is usually completed in a single session.

Does a root canal treated tooth hurt?

During root canal treatment, the nerves of the tooth are removed, so a tooth that has had root canal treatment is not affected by external stimuli. After the treatment, there may be slight pain or sensitivity in chewing for the first few weeks because the tooth needs time to heal like every tissue in our body.

What should I do if my pain does not go away?

If the pain persists in the future, the root canal filling may be incomplete or insufficient. In this case, the root canal is cleaned and refilled by removing the canal filling, which is generally called “retreatment”. If there is no improvement from this treatment, the tooth can be treated with a surgical method called “root tip resection”.

How can my tooth be restored after root canal treatment?

If the root canal treated tooth is one of the anterior teeth or if there is a small amount of material loss, the tooth can be reconstructed with a filling. However, a crown is usually needed on the posterior teeth. Some teeth need a substructure to support them before a crown is made. This infrastructure is called "core". A “post” is used to keep this infrastructure in place. Part of the filling material in the root canals should be removed and a place for the post should be prepared.

Root canal treatment renewal

Many patients think that the solution after unsuccessful root canal treatments is to have that tooth extracted. However, thanks to the developing dental technologies, it is possible to save the teeth by successfully renewing the root canal treatments.

Root canal treatment can be renewed with maximum quality by detecting the anatomical factors causing failure in root canal treatment with a three-dimensional imaging system, examining them under the microscope with 25 times magnification, and reaching the areas that hand tools cannot reach, using the laser.

Dental abscess

Tooth abscesses usually appear as a significant swelling in the gingiva, at the root level of deeply carious teeth or teeth with unsuccessful root canal treatment. When the factors causing the abscess are removed, dental abscesses heal in a very short time. The important thing is that an experienced physician can correctly identify the source of the abscess.

Fiber post

Teeth that have undergone root canal treatment become more fragile because of the loss of fluid caused by the removal of the infected nerve tissue in the root and the loss of dense substance in the tooth. In such cases, it is important to get support from the root of the tooth with fiber post systems to both regain function and support the tooth in the mouth.

Maximum support for the dental crown

In the past, wires, stainless steel screws and pins were preferred to support the root of the tooth, but nowadays, fiber posts can be applied more easily, more aesthetically, and better adhere to dental tissues. With this system, weakening of the root of the tooth is prevented and maximum support is obtained from the root of the tooth.

Successful results are obtained with the application of fiber post systems to ensure that the remaining root structure is stronger, to compensate for excessive material loss, to provide an aesthetic appearance and to ensure that the teeth in the anterior region regain their old appearance as soon as possible.

Frequently asked questions about fiber post

Is it obligatory to apply root canal treatment to every tooth to which the post will be applied?

Since post applications are made inside the root, root canal treatment must be done.

How many types of posts are there?

There are two types of posts generally used. Metal post and fiber (aesthetic) post.

What is the difference between fiber post and metal post?

Fiber posts are applied in one session with strong adhesives, called resin cement, which is chemically bonded to the tooth. Cast post or prefabricated metal posts are more physically attached to the tooth. Because cast posts are made in the laboratory, it requires two sessions.

Which cases are suitable for fiber post application?

They are suitable for teeth with excessive substance loss. They can be used to strengthen teeth with high substance loss, before making full ceramic porcelain such as zirconium.

Will I feel pain while applying the fiber post?

Since fiber posts are applied to root canal treated teeth, there is no need for anesthesia or numbing.

How many sessions does fiber post application take?

Fiber posts applied after root canal treatment can be finished within 15-20 minutes in a single session, and “post-cores” with high aesthetic properties and resistance can be made.

Can a fiber post be applied if there is only root?

If there is a healthy bone structure and root canal treatment, fiber can be applied even if only the root remains.

In which cases can fiber posts cannot be applied?

If there is a fracture, inflammation, cyst in the root of the tooth.
If the root of the tooth is short, crooked and extremely thin.
If there is a blockage in the roots and root canal treatment cannot be done up to the root tip.
If there is a problem in the bone tissue supporting the tooth and bone destruction is high.

Endocrown

This is the crown coating process that is placed directly on the tooth root, using strong adhesive materials after the root canal treatment is performed.

Endocrown restorations are produced with CAD/CAM systems after the preparation of the tooth and the digital impression.

In this way, since the margin of error is minimized in restorations prepared in digital environment, improved adhesion and less micro-leakage are provided, and the tooth is able to function for a long time.

Root tip / apical resection

Apical resection is the removal of the root tip and surrounding infected tissue.

After root canal treatment, that area is surgically reached to remove the problematic part of the tooth. At the end of the procedure, the root tip is closed with a special filling material. Laser can be used during the operation to increase the success of the procedure and the comfort after the procedure. The use of laser provides effective removal of infected tissues and increases the healing potential of the area.

Swelling, mild bleeding and discomfort may occur in the first 24-48 hours after the operation.

You can apply ice to your face to reduce swelling. Stitches are removed within 7-10 days and the healing status of the wound area is checked by your dentist. When the wound area is fully healed, the restoration of the tooth (filling or crown) is completed.

Use of the laser

In the past, root resection procedures were more common. Today, however, it is more common to extract the tooth and replace it with an implant. Although it is preferable to leave the natural tooth, in some cases, implant application may be a better option.

Tooth roots differ anatomically from person to person. Some people may have lateral root canals or delta spaces that root canal instruments cannot reach.

Since it is not possible to reach these areas with classical methods and to block the areas where bacteria can reproduce by filling these gaps, infection occurs at the root tips.

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In this case, the problem is solved by isolating and filling the root tip area, leaving no space for bacteria to grow. Today, it is possible to reach these areas with laser SWEEPS-PIPS techniques, thus reducing the need for root resection.

Root tip resection consists of bone removal, root tip cutting, and root tip occlusion. All these procedures can be performed using Er:YAG Laser. Complications such as swelling and pain in the facial area after the procedure are minimized.

Do you have any questions or want to start your treatment?