What Is Root Canal Treatment? 

Root canal treatment is the process of removing the living tissue in the center of the tooth and filling the canal with suitable filling materials. The nerves inside the tooth are removed, the canals inside the tooth roots are shaped and purified from microorganisms, and the enlarged canals are filled. Afterward, restorations such as fillings, porcelain crowns, and inlays are made according to the loss of material on the upper part of the tooth, and the aesthetic and functional continuity of the tooth is ensured. After root canal treatment, the remaining tooth will continue to assist in chewing, thus helping to prevent the bone in that area from resorption. 

When Do We Do RCT? 

– If there is caries that has progressed to the nerve of the tooth,
– In cases where fractures involving the nerve of the tooth occur as a result of trauma,
– In the treatment of teeth that lose their vitality and change color (darkening) for various reasons,
– In advanced gum diseases,
– In the elimination of sensitivity caused by advanced wear on the teeth,
– In order to keep the painful, inflamed, and badly-conditioned teeth in the mouth as a result of high fillings or prostheses,
Root canal treatment is applied.  

How Is Root Canal Treatment Done And How Long Does It Take? 

The patient is anesthetized and the tooth decay is cleaned. The pulp chamber, which contains the nerves and veins of the tooth, is reached and various procedures are applied to clean the bacteria from the bacteria by entering the canals from this part of the tooth with special tools. Then, the pulp chamber and canals are filled with various materials depending on the situation and closed with a temporary filling. This process may take several sessions. In some cases, root canal treatment can be done in a single session, while in abscessed and inflamed teeth, this situation is tried to be overcome by dressings, so the treatment may take several sessions. After the tooth has healed, the canal filling is finished. After the canal filling is completed, the permanent restoration of the tooth (filling, porcelain crown, etc.) should be done as soon as possible. 

What Is Retreatment?

The success rate of root canal treatments performed under sterile conditions is between 90-95%. If the residual nerve tissue during the treatment is left, in cases where the root canal filling and top filling are not done enough, the failure of the root canal treatment is mentioned to the leakage of microorganisms into the canal and the formation of fractures during the treatment. We can understand an unsuccessful root canal treatment by the symptoms of pain in the teeth, swelling, and redness at the root tip. Unsuccessful root canal treatment is renewed and the treatment is repeated. If this procedure is insufficient, apical resection is applied, the root tip is surgically reached, and the infection is cleaned and closed. If the root canal treatment is repeated and the surgical intervention is insufficient, the extraction of the tooth should be considered. 

How Long Can The Repaired Tooth Be Used?

Because the pulp that keeps the tooth alive is no longer present, the treated tooth becomes more prone to fracture. This is important when deciding whether to apply a crown or filling to the tooth after root canal treatment. Since the inflammation in the natural tissues will last for a few days after your root canal treatment is finished, you may complain of pain when you press on your tooth. During this period, you should not load into that area. After a while, your complaint will pass. If necessary, you can use a pain reliever recommended by your doctor.

Treated and repaired teeth can be used for a lifetime with the right oral and dental care. Regular oral care and a dental check-up once a year are necessary, as cavities may occur again in the treated tooth.