A root canal procedure is a dental procedure that treats the pulp of a tooth normally due to infection or damage. The root canal process is normally carried out by dentists or endodontists who are surgeons with special training in the procedure. The procedure is useful in avoiding the extraction of the natural tooth, relieves the patient's pain, and gives him/her a functional mouth. Root canal treatment is suitable for patients with extensive tooth decay or infection, symptoms of toothache reaching the nerve, or an abscess. It includes the elimination of the injured or diseased pulp and thorough shaping and instrumentation of the root canal, followed by starting and dental filling and sealing to shut out pathogens. Currently, root canal treatments commonly conducted in Turkey are made with the help of modern technology and materials; thus, the quality of treatment is rather high in this country. You will find so many individuals from other countries visiting Turkey specifically to access dental clinics because of the abundance of talented dentists and fairly cheap service.
Endodontics is one division of dentistry that is involved with the formation, biological functioning, and diseases of the dental pulp and the surrounding tissues. It is important since it assists in keeping natural teeth given that they may have to be pulled out due to infection or harm. In essence, endodontists are dentists who mostly deal with root canal treatments, which involve the elimination of the infected pulp, the cleaning of the canal, and the filing of the same to avoid further infection. Altogether, it can be concluded that endodontics has primary importance to the preservation of the teeth, elimination of pain, and enhancement of overall health.
Root canal treatment is necessary to maintain the tooth and as well as to relieve pain, avoiding additional infection or abscess.
Deep Tooth Decay: Caries that extend to the regions of enamel and dentin, then connect with the pulp and infected.
Severe Toothache: Chronic pain, particularly when touching the teeth or when biting on objects that require pressure in the mouth, means the pulp is affected.
Sensitivity to Temperature: Extended sensation of hot or cold typically a symptom of the pulp’s inflammation.
Tooth Infection: The feeling of pain and swelling at the root tip due to an infection in the pulp tissue and the formation of an abscess.
Cracked or Chipped Tooth: Damage that results from the opening of the pulp to bacteria, hence causing infection.
Repeated Dental Procedures: Several procedures done on a particular tooth may lead to irritation or injuries to the pulp of that tooth.
Swollen or Tender Gums: Inflamed, red, or warm; recurring pimple or gum boil on gums close to the affected tooth.
Tooth Discoloration: Turning the tooth black points to probable injury to the nerve.
Trauma: A chip in a tooth or any other situation that creates pulp damage to the tooth.
Several precautions should be taken before receiving root canal treatment to enhance the treatment's success and reduce pain. First of all, the person needs to visit the dentist and get a detailed checkup and dental X-rays that would show the severity of the infection and how exactly it is planned to treat it. Personal hygiene should be stringently observed, especially regarding the teeth and around the mouth, as this area especially contains substantial bacterial content. Patients are advised to abstain from alcohol and tobacco for about one day before the treatment due to the impact on the anesthetic and healing process. There are no restrictions to diet before the appointment; however, it is recommended that the patient should only take a small meal before the appointment, for it may be challenging to eat properly as the mouth might be numb for some hours after the treatment. If advised to do so by the doctor, take any antibiotics or other anti-inflammatory drugs to minimize the risk of infection and inflammation. As an important preparation for the procedure, come for the appointment with a clean mouth as it provides a good environment for the procedure to be done.
Initial Examination and X-rays: Dentists examine contaminated teeth and limit apparatus. X-rays are used to evaluate the severity of the infection and configuration of the root canals.
Local Anesthesia: Before the surgery, local anesthesia is administered to help reduce sensations in the tooth and other tissues that are to be operated on.
Isolation of the Tooth: They employ a dental dam; this is a thin plastic sheet that is placed around the tooth in question in a bid to reduce contact with saliva.
Access Opening: The dentist then proceeds to create an access cavity at the crown of the tooth to access the affected or injured pulp.
Pulp Removal: With the help of special equipment, the dentist removes infected or destructed pulp from the chamber and root canals.
Cleaning and Shaping: In filling working through the root canals, these need to be shaped, cleaned, and disinfected; their shapes have to match the filling. In this step, one may use bath solutions in antiseptic to irrigate out bacteria in the appendix.
Filling the Canals: The canals are shaped and cleaned and then obturated with biocompatible material like gutta-percha to seal off the canal and avoid further reinfection.
Temporary Filling: This hole is then temporarily filled to close it up until the final restorative material is placed in it.
Permanent Restoration: Subsequently, the stent is removed and the final restoration, such as a crown or filling, is built to provide the tooth the support and appearance.
Follow-Up: The dentist arranges appointments to enable him or her to see how the recovery process is going and the effectiveness of the work done.
Following the root canal treatment, there are certain recommendations that you need to adhere to; the first is not to touch any food or liquid as you may bite your tongue or cheek since your mouth will be numb due to the administration of anesthesia. Avoid biting on the treated tooth until a crown or permanent filling is put in, in case the tooth may fracture. To treat any inflammation or pain, take the medicines that your dentist prescribed to you; it may be a painkiller, for instance. Avoid abrasive brushing and flossing of the treated spot to avoid further worsening of the situation. After surgery, patients are encouraged to arrange a recheck with their dentist to make sure the tooth is healing correctly and proceed to the final restoration to maximize the long-term prognosis of the treated tooth.
No, generally, root canal treatment does not cause any pain as the dentist first uses anesthetic agents to numb the tooth and the area around the tooth. There is usually very little discomfort or none at all during the operation in most of the cases. Normal cramping or slight soreness are experienced after the procedure, which can be relieved by nonprescription drugs like Ibuprofen or Acetaminophen. Swelling is possible but can be addressed by applying an ice pack to the area for the first 24-48 hours intermittently. In this case, as the swelling reduces, the pain also follows this pattern of reducing as the inflammation comes down. In general, the pain is seldom severe and lasts only for a short time; most patients resume their normal activities within 1-3 days.
Root canal price in Turkey also depends on the clinic, the patient is charged, the qualification of the dentist, the level of difficulty of the treatment, the number of teeth that are treated, the reputation of the clinic, and the quality of materials used. Most of the dental clinics in Turkey welcome international patients and provide oral health care services at very affordable costs that normally come with accommodation, transportation, and tours.
Contact Dr. Halil Tellioğlu for detailed info about root canal treatment and current root canal cost.
Individuals choose Turkey for root canal treatment due to the growing healthcare system and the high requirements for the quality of services. It has professional and well-trained endodontics specialists suited and capable of offering the best endodontic services to the patients. Nonetheless, services are cheaper in many other countries and quality is not suffered in the process. Turkey is also an ideal place for vacation, so all the patients combine dental treatment with rest. Numerous clinics provide ample packages for root canal treatment and this also entails accommodation and transportation, which enhance the convenience of the package. Due to the inclusion of all aspects of treatment, planning for these packages and even going through the process does not cause stress. Therefore, quality, affordable treatment, and the ability to have a nice vacation contribute to the popularity of Turkey in terms of dental care.
Yes, the root canal treatment is worth given the benefits accruing from the treatment and the high success rate. From the scientific side, it kills infection in the tooth, and this kills any transfer of microorganisms to the neighboring tissues to minimize the formation of abscesses. This treatment helps to continue the use of the tooth as it is still functional without pulling out and replacing it with artificial teeth, which tend to be complicated and expensive. Furthermore, root canal treatment relieves pain due to pulpal inflammation or infection, which acutely enhances the patient’s well-being. In general, it is regarded as a very efficient procedure that helps to carry out dental treatment and bring back the health and functionality of the teeth, so it is a great gain for long-term oral health.
The effectiveness of root canal treatment can be 10 to 15 years or more and even a lifetime if the work is properly cared for. It can take a shorter time depending on some aspects like inadequate dental hygiene, which may lead to new infections and tooth demineralization. Further, the habit of biting on hard objects or grinding teeth is likely to compromise the treated tooth or fail. To increase the durability of a root canal treatment, it is relevant to undergo dental check-ups and practice oral hygiene.
The success rate of root canal treatment is about 95%. The outcomes depend on the level of infection and the configuration of the root canal system. Hence, sound cleaning, shaping, and sealing of the canals are vital to avoid recontamination. Also, the kind of restoration, which can be a crown in this case, has a great contribution in preventing the treated tooth from other problems and maintaining the success of the treatment in the long run.
Endodontic therapy and tooth avulsion are two different ways of handling severely affected or infected teeth. Endodontic therapy or root canal treatment is beneficial because it retains the natural tooth, eliminates the diseased pulp, and cleans and fills the canals, which helps the patient retain their natural teeth and aesthetics. Extraction, on the other hand, involves pulling out the whole tooth, and this results in the formation of a hole, which causes bone loss and drifting of the neighboring teeth in the future. Any surgery always has its complications, but the root canal recovery time and complications of root canals are relatively lower than those of extractions, which may lead to other processes like implantation or the fixing of a bridge in the mouth. From a scientific perspective, a root-filled tooth that has not been extracted is more healthy and functional for the teeth than when one is pulled out; since this will compromise the architectural setup of the jaw and even need more reconstructive dental treatments.
No, it is not advisable to eat anything soon after the root canal process because of the anesthesia. The sensation loss also presents itself in a way that you can bite your tongue, cheek, or lips inadvertently and hurt yourself. After the sensation returns, it is advised that the person only consumes fluid foods or those that do not require the bite being taken on the treated tooth before a permanent restoration such as a crown is put in place. This precaution is very important since the tooth still has some level of sensitivity after the procedure.
The procedure of a root canal is divided into several categories based on the clinical situation. Routine endodontic treatment is the most common type that entails cleaning and filling the tooth’s main channels. Tooth re-treatment is recommended when a tooth that has been treated before becomes re-infected, thus the old filling material has to be removed and the canal has to be cleaned and filled again. Apicoectomy or surgical endodontic is performed when conventional methods do not work; it entails the extraction of the tooth’s apex and the surrounding affected tissue. These treatments are selected depending on the severity of the infection, the structure of a tooth, and the patient’s dental history.
Generally, the age at which root canal treatment is done ranges from at least 12 years of age. The treatment at this age is possible also because the majority of permanent teeth have their roots well developed and firmly set in the gums. When the root canal is done on a tooth with some roots not fully formed, the procedure can be a little complicated and more procedures like apexification may be used. However, a child may require a root canal for a primary tooth if this is necessary to retain the tooth until it becomes ready to shed off naturally.
Sometimes the root canal may get infected, and this is characterized by pain or throbbing in the tooth that was treated. Scientifically, this can be attributed to bacteria persisting in the root canals or reinfection through a defective restoration. Some of the other signs are the redness and inflammation of the neighboring gums, the pain when one takes hot or cold drinks or foods, and the formation of an abscess or a small crater-like formation on the gums. Dental X-rays can also help to determine the infected root canal treatment as changes in the bone around the root tip imply inflammation or infection.
Yes, if you have had a root canal done before, you can potentially undergo another root canal called endodontic retreatment. In scientific terms, it entails the process of the removal of the existing filling material, additional canal cleansing, and proper sealing to prevent reinfection or any new infections at all. Retreatment becomes necessary whenever the first procedure is unsuccessful, for instance, because of poor clean-up, challenges in accessing the canal, or recurrent caries that may threaten the margin. It is more likely that the second procedure will have a higher success rate due to the use of new methods and superior materials.
Most root canal treatment side effects are mild and will only last for several days. Possible negative side effects include some post-surgical discomfort and increased awareness of the area during the healing process; this is expected and can be eased with the help of ordinary painkillers such as ibuprofen. Gingival edema or swelling of the tissues of the surrounding gums may also be seen, however, this is just temporary and would recede in 3 to 4 days. There are occasions where the tooth is not adequately cleaned or sealed or the infection comes back, requiring more treatment or root canal retreatment.
Note: You can contact Fethiye Dental to get detailed information about laminate veneers and to be examined.
This article is for informational and advisory purposes. The recommendations of your surgeon should be a priority.
