What is Endodontics?

Endodontics is applied in fractured teeth, with deep cavities or damaged pulp tissue. A discoloration in the dental piece and pain before cold or hot stimuli, are the symptoms that may indicate the need to perform a root canal on the damaged tooth. Once the treatment is performed, with proper care, the restored tooth will last a lifetime.

Endodontics is the treatment of root canals and consists of the removal of the damaged or infected pulp. The dental pulp is a connective tissue, made up of blood vessels, lymphatic vessels and nerves that nourish the tooth, which occupies part of the crown and the root or roots of the tooth. The objective of any endodontic treatment is the total or partial removal of the damaged pulp, thus avoiding the loss or extraction of the tooth.

Endodontic Treatment

A deep cavity or a lesion on the surface of the tooth can cause serious damage and infections in the nerves and vessels of the pulp. Endodontics consists of cleaning the pulp chamber as well as the infected canals and then placing a filling material to seal those spaces that were previously cleaned and disinfected. The endodontic procedure may last several sessions.
Once the root canal treatment is completed, the tooth that had been destroyed by decay or any other cause is restored.

In cases where the tooth has been badly destroyed, and therefore has little tooth structure, support posts or pins are used and a crown is used to completely cover the tooth. This technique aims to reinforce the tooth and avoid possible fractures. However, in other cases, if the tooth is not so badly destroyed, it is simply restored with definitive filling materials such as esthetic composites.
A restored tooth for life

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After an adequate definitive restoration, a tooth that has undergone endodontics can last a lifetime, as long as good oral hygiene habits (brushing, flossing and routine cleanings) are followed. In addition, the patient should attend clinical and radiographic check-ups to avoid problems in the future.