- January 22, 2025
Root canal treatment of a tooth is one of those dental procedures whose patients are most afraid of. Why? Endodontics is associated not only with repeated and long-term visits to the dentist's office, but also with pain and great discomfort - both during and after the treatment. Of course, root canal treatment is not pleasant, but its methods have undergone many changes over the years.
Contemporary medicine not only allows for a significant shortening of the therapy (which largely depends on the level of tooth damage), but also for the elimination of pain, which is so much feared by patients. So what does modern endodontics look like?
Generally speaking, root canal treatment consists in removing the diseased pulp from the tooth canal and supplementing the chamber with an appropriately selected stabilizing material. The whole endodontic procedure consists of several basic stages:
Before starting root canal treatment, the dentist must scan the tooth. On its basis, the dentist assesses not only the structure of the tooth (i.e. the shape and length of the canal), but also how advanced the infection itself is - whether it concerns only the inside of the tooth, or whether it has already reached the nearby bones. On this basis, the dentist decides on the method of anaesthesia.
The type of anaesthesia is selected depending on the severity of the infection. Interestingly, its use in some cases is not necessary, especially when the nerve is already dead. However, an appropriate dose of an anaesthetic calms the patient, which is extremely important both for the doctor and the person undergoing treatment.
The next step of endodontics is to drill a hole in the tooth and remove the infected pulp. It is extremely important to clean the tooth thoroughly - both from bacteria and any pulp residues. For this purpose, the dentist should rinse the canals several times and then dry them thoroughly.
The cleaned canal must be filled with suitable stabilising material to prevent further infections. In some cases, the filling is applied immediately after cleaning, but many dentists prefer to wait a few days for the patient to walk with the right medication. The last step in root canal treatment - after filling the canal itself - is to place a seal, i.e. a standard tooth filling.
After the endodontic procedure, the tooth is dead, but as a result of appropriate dental activities, it can still be used for many years.
Many patients are afraid of root canal treatment. This is hardly surprising, as endodontics is notorious. Meanwhile, modern medicine has modern methods of treatment, which do not make it a pleasant experience, but they can certainly reduce the discomfort associated with treatment. First of all, it should be emphasized that dentists nowadays have not only effective anesthetics, but also very precise instruments that facilitate reaching the deepest layers of the tooth. In addition, it is worth noting that modern dentistry increasingly often uses a microscope - also for root canal treatment.
Endodontics under the microscope is one of the most modern procedures, which is characterized by safety and high efficiency. The use of a microscope allows for precise cleaning and filling of the canals - even those which are obstructed or curved. The doctor has the ability to watch the channel at high magnification, which allows him to locate any abnormalities and precisely perform all actions. Thanks to this, the canal is well cleaned, filled and closed, and the endodontics itself is effective and efficient. Although microscopic treatment is not one of the cheapest, it is worth considering such a treatment option.
Canal treatment is undoubtedly a cause for concern. However, when going to the dentist it is worth remembering that modern methods of treatment differ significantly from those used many years ago, and the endodontics itself is not only less painful, but also more effective.
