What is endodontics?
Endodontics is a dental treatment commonly known as “nerve killing”. It consists of removing the deep part of the tooth when it is injured or infected. The objective of this treatment is to clean the inside of the tooth and fill it with an inert material.
The treatment is performed under local anesthesia, so it is not painful. It is true that, once the anesthesia has worn off, the patient may feel some discomfort when chewing for the next few days. The term endodontics is also used as a synonym for endodontics, a branch of stomatology that deals with diseases of the dental pulp.
Endodontics removes the deep part of the tooth when it is damaged or infected.
Why is it performed?
Endodontics is indicated when there is widespread decay or tooth fracture that has caused inflammation or death of the dental pulp. The treatment is performed to keep the tooth healthy so that it is useful for chewing, avoiding having to extract the tooth.
If this treatment is not carried out, it can lead to the loss of the tooth, the spread of infection to the blood, facial cellulitis or Ludwig’s angina and ostemelitis, among other pathologies.
What does it consist of?
The technique consists of extracting the nerve, cleaning the root canal and then sealing it with a thermoplastic material (gutta-percha) and cement or another type of obturation material. When it has already been decided that the appropriate treatment would be a root canal, then the intervention would be planned, using local anesthesia. Next, a hole is drilled in the crown of the tooth and access is gained to the pulp to extract it and isolate the tooth from the body. The canals are then cleaned and closed. After the intervention, an X-ray is taken to verify that everything has gone correctly. In most cases the treatment can be performed in a single session, although in some cases it may be necessary to perform two or more sessions.
Preparation for endodontics
The first thing we should take into account is the diagnosis by a specialist in dentistry and stomatology. In addition, before undergoing this treatment, the patient should know that he/she is exposed to certain risks such as: abscess, loss of the tooth or nerve damage.
Care after the procedure
After the treatment, the patient may experience pain or swelling. To alleviate this, an anti-inflammatory medication may be taken. After endodontics, several x-rays are necessary to ensure the accuracy of the result.
Most people can resume their daily routine the day after treatment. It is important that, until the tooth is permanently filled, the patient avoids rough chewing in the area.
Alternatives to this treatment
There are currently no alternative treatments to endodontics, as the only alternative would be to extract the affected tooth and place an implant. In this case, the tooth would be lost, so it is a solution recommended by few specialists in Dentistry and Stomatology. Nowadays studies are being developed that show a promising and open future for treatments that preserve the tooth and regenerate the pulp.
It is very important to make patients aware of oral hygiene to avoid pathologies such as caries or oral diseases. In addition, periodic visits to the dentist should not be forgotten as a preventive measure to avoid this type of procedure.