Endodontics
Committed to you
What is endodontics?
It is the dental specialization that deals with diseases of the dental pulp (nerve). The pathology of the dental nerve usually becomes noticeable through pain that can be very intense, either due to an infection (caries that reaches the nerve) or traumatic causes. Thanks to Endodontics, we remove the pulp inside the root to avoid constant pain or infection in the surrounding tissue (bone and soft tissues) and fill the "disinfected" canal with a biocompatible material; thus we keep the tooth in the mouth, preventing its removal and eliminating the suffered pathology.
Frequently asked questions:
1. What is the nerve?
It is a connective tissue found inside the root of the tooth, formed by nerve endings, blood vessels and other specialized cells.
2. What is the function of the nerve?
The main function of the nerve is root formation at a very early age. Then its task is to give information about tooth sensitivity (hot or cold) or pain while being affected by caries.
3. When do I need to get endodontic treatment?
Endodontic treatment should be performed when the pulp (nerve) is “sick”; when it is affected by an irreversible inflammation (pulpitis) or infection (necrosis).
Usually one of the first symptoms of “sick” pulp is hypersensitivity to cold and subsequently also to heat. In a more advanced stage, the pain is already spontaneous, and when the process advances and causes infection, it can even lead to inflammation of the surrounding soft tissues (gumboil).
You ought to be careful because, in some cases, the pulp pathology can occur without symptoms, turning into necrosis and infecting surrounding tissues with consequent loss of periapical bone (bone around the root), chronic infection and general health hazards.
Therefore, regular checkups are highly recommended. Visit your dentist before any symptoms arise.
4. Does the endodontic treatment hurt?
The patient usually arrives suffering from a sharp pain, often one preventing him from doing daily tasks. But after endodontic treatment, he leaves free from pain and happy to get back to life as usual.
Endodontics is a treatment that is performed under local anesthesia, thanks to which it is painless. After endodontics (depending on how advanced the pulp inflammation was already), there is sometimes a slight discomfort in chewing that lasts no more than a few days and remits spontaneously.
5. How long does an endodontic treatment last?
In medicine, we cannot categorically ensure that any treatment has a prognosis "for life," especially if it does not meet expected standards. However, endodontics performed correctly has a success rate of 95%. Therefore, it is very important to seek the help of professionals specialized in this field of dentistry: endodontists.