Root canal treatment or commonly known as endodontic is a process of removing the infected pulp and sealing the space. After that process, a crown will be replaced to restore the tooth function. Endodontic originate from Greek times, “endo” meaning inside and “odont” meaning tooth. Today we will learn the basic steps of endodontic treatment.
1). Diagnosis and anaesthesia
First, the doctor will diagnose the problem and determine the root cause for this treatment using several methods like x-ray, radiographs, endo spray or pulp tester. Then anaesthesia will be injected into the tooth to numb the surrounding tissues. This process might take some time depending on the tooth condition.
2.) Dental dam
The tooth that needs the treatment will be isolated using a dental dam. This is a very important procedure to prevent the accumulation of saliva that contains bacteria so that the tooth area is clean and in a sterile condition.
3). Hole drilling and removal
A small hole will be drilled to get access to the root canal and pulp chamber through the affected tooth. This is done using an endodontic bur and chelating agent. The dead pulp and nerves will be removed using barbed broaches or hand files.
4). Cleaning
This is a very important process because the cleaning must be thorough to prevent any bacteria infection in that area. Usually, doctors use a chemical called EDTA and a chelating agent but some doctors prefer using sodium hypochlorite to remove the bacteria. The main point is it must be clean. This type of process is professionally done in the number 1 clinic in El Paso, Texas, “ep Root Canal Specialist”. You can visit this site eprootcanals.com to learn more and book an appointment.
5) Drying and Filling
The canal will be dried with a paper point to prevent any further bacterial infection. Then the doctor will use the root canal sealer and gutta-percha to seal the canal hole (temporary filling) and prevent bacterial infection to that particular area. Finally, the dental dam will be removed.
6) After effect treatment and restoration
An antibiotic will be prescribed to prevent infection. The effect may last a maximum of about one week. If you are feeling any kind of soreness an aspirin or any prescribed medicine can be used to reduce it. Once this is done the endodontist will send you back to the general doctor to decide which permanent fillings you want to use. It is called the crown. This step must be done to prevent recontamination of the root canal with bacteria.
Remember, root canal disease can be very painful. Try to identify the issue as early as you can and go to a root canal specialist to get the best treatment.