Endodontics is the branch of dentistry that deals with the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of diseases or lesions of the dental pulp (tissue containing nerves and blood vessels found in structures inside the tooth called root canals and root canals). The most common treatment is endodontics or root canal therapy.
Applications of endodontics
Endodontics is a treatment used to preserve the tooth in case of pulp lesion, thus avoiding extraction. It is the first treatment to be considered since there is nothing better than the tooth itself and extraction is an irreversible treatment.
Causes of pulp lesions
Pulp lesions have different causes: deep caries, large reconstructions, trauma, malocclusion, bruxism, root exposure due to periodontal disease, etc.
On other occasions, endodontics is indicated in pieces that require grinding for the placement of crowns or bridges.
Endodontic technique and treatment
Endodontics is a laborious but painless procedure that is performed with an adequate anesthetic technique and requires time. It consists of the removal of the pulp complex, cleaning, disinfection and shaping of the root canals, drying and subsequent obturation and sealing of the canals.
The achievement of these objectives is made difficult by the anatomical complexity of some teeth, which are a challenge for the endodontist.
Endodontic follow-up
In the days following the endodontic procedure, postoperative discomfort may occur, which will be treated with appropriate medication.
During this time, chewing hard food with the treated tooth should be avoided until the provisional filling is replaced by the definitive coronary restoration. On many occasions it is advisable to place a cover or cuspid protection to protect the tooth and reduce the possibility of fracture.
Once the postoperative period is over, periodic check-ups are carried out to verify clinically and radiographically the correct evolution and healing of the tissues.
Endodontic result
Endodontic treatments have a success rate of around 95%. It is a predictable, safe and effective treatment to save the tooth that would otherwise be lost.
After an adequate rehabilitation, the endodontic tooth behaves the same as the other teeth, both in function and durability. The tooth, however, is susceptible to new pathologies and requires the same oral hygiene maintenance and periodic check-ups as the rest of the teeth.