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Endodontics (Root canal treatment) |
By means of root canal treatment we try to conserve a tooth which has a dead, inflamed or irreversibly damaged nerve.
There can be various causes for the inflammation of the nerve (pulpitis) such as untreated cavities, which serve as a doorway for bacteria without necessarily causing pain, fractures of the tooth, or traumatic treatment which can cause pulpitis - an extremely painful matter!
There are two distinct situations in which root canal treatment may be required:
1) The tooth (nerve ) is alive but irreversibly damaged. Under anaesthesia, the tooth is isolated by means of a rubber dam. The root canal must be kept germ-free. The infected nerve is removed , the root canal system cleaned and disinfected and finally, filled and tightly sealed.
2) If the nerve of the tooth is already dead, it must be removed and submitted to the above-stated procedures
Sometimes it is advisable to apply medication to the root canal system before filling, in order to neutralize its ph.
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Endodontics
Diagram shows rinsing of root canals
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