Microscopic root canal treatment
Microscopic endodontics, or more commonly known root canal treatment under microscope, is aimed at rebuilding and saving diseased teeth. It involves the removal of the infected pulp of the tooth and tightly filling the canal with a biocompatible material, preventing the growth of bacteria. An effective treatment will prevent further damage to your teeth and will restore the shine of your smile.
Why undergo this procedure in our clinic?
Using safe and non-invasive micro-computed tomography, a three-dimensional visualisation of your tooth will be performed. This will allow us to diagnose inflammation, as well as other problems, quickly and accurately. Accurate diagnostics maximises the effectiveness of treatment and reduces its time to minimum.
Our clinic is equipped with comfortable units that will make you feel relaxed throughout the procedure. Depending on your preferences, we will anaesthetise you locally using pain-free computer-assisted anaesthesia or offer inhalation sedation with laughing gas.
We have the experience, expertise and all the latest technology to perform the procedure at the highest level. Once the treatment is finished, we will perform an additional test to assess its effects. Our clinic specialises in advanced diagnostics and treatment of all dental and oral disorders.
During your treatment, we will use a state-of-the-art microscope and an advanced device to prepare the canals and fill them. The use of modern technologies ensures precision and safety, as well as quicker healing time.
Primary root canal treatment
Root canal treatment, also known as endodontic treatment, is a procedure that involves thorough cleaning of the root canals of the teeth. The purpose of root canal treatment is to remove the infected or dead pulp of the tooth and replace it with an appropriate filling. The effect of this treatment is the long-term functioning of the tooth, without the risk of pain or inflammation.
When does a tooth need a primary root canal treatment?
The dentist starts the primary root canal treatment when the dental pulp inside the tooth cavity becomes infected. The pulp is a living tissue, quite abundantly endowed with vessels and nerves. In the event of tooth decay, mechanical trauma or other reasons, it may become infected. The consequence of this is a development of inflammation, most often resulting in necrosis. Primary root canal treatment can be challenging due to various problems with the root canals.
The success rate of a root canal treatment is around 70 – 90%. The complication of the root canal system at the end of the tooth plays a major role in the outcome. With very fine root canals and complex ramifications, the procedure may be difficult. A surgical microscope or dental glasses with a high magnification called loupes, enables dentists to perform the treatment with the best accuracy possible.
How to recognize inflammation of the pulp?
Patients usually complain of throbbing pain, and are sometimes unable to determine its location. The intensity of the pain may increase when eating warm food. Advanced pulpitis is manifested by problems when biting. However, sometimes the inflammation of the pulp may not cause any pain at all, until the infection spreads significantly and there is a visible swelling.
Root canal treatment requires a great deal of knowledge, skills, experience and precision. The roots have a very small diameter and can be difficult to find. The procedure can be lengthy, and it may last several hours, depending on the tooth and the number of root canals.
Root canal treatment has been a very common procedure for many years. Since technology and techniques have advanced in dentistry, it is now possible to provide a faster, easier and safer treatment process for patients. At Materna Dental, our experienced team of dental professionals will work to ensure that the root canal procedure is performed correctly and that your tooth is restored to its natural state.
If you have a tooth that is infected, root canal treatment may be the best option to relieve your pain and save your tooth. Call us to book an appointment
Secondary root canal treatment (re-endo)
Repeated root canal treatment applies to people who had the treatment before. There are situations when, despite previously successfully performed root canal treatment, it is necessary to do it again. Why does this happen, if the previously treated tooth is “dead”, and therefore does not hurt or bother you?
The most common reason is the onset of acute inflammation in the tooth. This can be caused, for example, by inadequate cleaning of the root canals. Other reasons include primarily improperly filled root canals, which are visible only after the X-ray has been taken, or disturbing changes at the root apex, which can only be shown by an X-ray or CT scan. The occurrence of such changes may not necessarily cause pain.
Other symptoms indicating the need of re-treatment are swelling and/or purulent fistula on the gum, above the tooth.
Does every tooth with an insufficiently filled root canal need to be re-treated?
Unfortunately, in most cases – yes. The reason for this is that an incomplete canal is an ideal habitat for bacteria, which can wreak havoc on the body, causing bone infections and inflammation. Therefore, repeated root canal treatment must be carried out as soon as possible.
What does the re-endo procedure look like?
Repeated root canal procedure is more complicated than the original treatment. It consists of opening the tooth again, removing the old material, cleaning the entire root again and finally applying another appropriate filling to prevent further infections.
Repeated root canal treatment is performed under local anaesthesia and is completely painless. However, due to the need to remove the previous material, it may take longer than the first treatment.
The re-endo procedure typically involves:
1. Placement of a “rubber dam” to isolate the treated tooth and keep it dry
2. Drilling through an existing filling /or crown
3. Fitting of a band around the tooth for protection (this is not done if the teeth has a crown)
4. Removal of previous filing and preparation of the root canals
5. Thorough disinfection of root canals
6. X-ray pictures taken to check if the canals are filled properly
7. Temporary or permanent filling is placed, depending on the need of additional appointments.
FAQ- Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my tooth need root canal treatment?
Endodontic (root canal) treatment is a way of saving a tooth in the event of inflammation or infection (gangrene) of the pulp. The most common cause of this condition is deep dental decay, but also cracks or fractures of the tooth. Sometimes trauma to the tooth, like a blow, can lead to damage to the pulp, without obvious cracks or fracture. Failure to treat an infected tooth will certainly lead to its extraction.
Is root canal treatment painful?
Root canal treatment is performed under anaesthesia, so it is completely pain-free. The procedure can be performed under local anaesthesia or using sedation with the “laughing gas”.
How long does root canal treatment take?
We try to shorten the time of root canal treatment to the necessary minimum. It usually takes place during one visit (but it can be more in the more complicated cases). The duration of the treatment depends on the type of tooth treated, its anatomical structure (number and structure of root canals) and other conditions in the oral cavity. Typically, root canal treatment lasts about 1-3 hours.
Why is root canal treatment so expensive?
There are several factors that contribute to this:
– modern root canal treatment requires the use of expensive specialist equipment,
– during root canal treatment, the doctor uses a set of (up to 12) specialist tools of various sizes. We use tools from renowned global companies and follow the safety protocols to minimise the risk of breaking the tool in the root canal
– the need to take several X-rays (we use only the digital technique – more expensive to use, but limiting the radiation dose to a minimum),
– during root canal treatment, it is necessary to use many chemical preparations that support the effectiveness of the treatment,
– The treatment process ends with the filling of the root canal system, using specialised equipment and highest quality materials.
Can root canal treatment fail?
The success rate of a root canal treatment is around 70 – 90%. The complication of the root canal system at the end of the tooth plays a major role in the outcome. With very fine root canals and complex ramifications, the procedure may be difficult. Unfortunately, the dentist is not able to guarantee full success – but he or she always takes full responsibility for the correct course of treatment. Failure of the treatment can also result from the extent of the infection, the virulence of the bacteria and the strength of the immune system of the patient.
