Painless conventional laser root treatment
In case of severely damaged teeth and frequent toothaches, root canal treatment or laser root canal treatment can be a solution. This dental intervention is mainly aimed at saving teeth with inflamed or dead gums, which is why we use the microscope for a better visibility of the condition of the teeth and for a clear diagnosis.
At our dental clinic, we always strive to ensure that our patients can use their own teeth for as long as possible, therefore whenever possible, we recommend root canal treatment instead of tooth extraction.
By root canal treatment, we mean the removal of the blood vessels and nerves located in the root, i.e. the pulp. Our dentists then conclude the treatment with a root filling.
What problems can be remedied with root canal treatment?
- periodontitis, which developed due to tooth decay that was not treated in time
- periodontitis caused by an injury
- tooth decay that developed as a result of a previous filling
- inflammation of a healthy tooth, which has been overloaded due to the absence of a tooth on the opposite side
The consequence of all this can be a toothache that occurs rarely at first, then becomes frequent and intense, or gum pain, which requires immediate intervention. The experienced specialists of Medicover Dentistry speak several languages (English, German, Romanian, Turkish, Hebrew, Persian) and use the latest technologies to solve the problem. After the root canal treatment, an X-ray is taken repeatedly as part of the follow-up process.
Steps of root canal treatment
Root canal treatment is a dental procedure during which damaged or infected tooth pulp is replaced with a root filling under local anesthesia. The process is as follows:
- A panoramic X-ray or an intraoral X-ray is taken before starting the root canal treatment.
- Based on the recordings, the contents of the dental cavity will be removed through a small opening. This is a completely painless dental procedure!
- The infected chamber wall (the inner wall of the dental cavity) is removed and the opening is disinfected with a bacteria-killing laser.
- To eliminate the inflammation that causes the toothache, a medicated filling is placed in the cavity for a few days.
- During the next visit to the dentist, a rubber-like filling (gutta-percha) is inserted into the root canal, which hermetically seals the inside of the tooth, thereby preventing further bacteria from entering.
- Finally, the dentist places an external filling or crown on the tooth based on the size of the hole.
Misconceptions
Root canal treatment gives you the opportunity to keep and save your own tooth! However, for many people, when they hear the word, they immediately mistakenly think of a painful and trying treatment. There is no question about that! Unfortunately misconceptions circulate like urban legends. What are those?
1. Painful
Thanks to the local anesthesia, the treatment is painless, but there is no need to worry afterwards, it is recommended to take painkillers after the treatment according to the dentist’s instructions. We can talk about pain, intense toothache, if the root of the tooth in question is not treated, and it remains in constant inflammation.
2. Unnecessary
Because after that the tooth will have to be extracted anyway. However, this is also wrong, since the essence of root canal treatment is to save the inflamed tooth.
3. Necrose
A root-treated tooth is no longer alive, so it is easily damaged and becomes brittle. The tooth root is the internal structure of the tooth, but it does not usually affect the structure of the tooth. If significant decay is responsible for its development, it may weaken the structure. In this case, our dentists place a crown on the damaged tooth, which is identical in appearance to the own tooth.
4. Only when the tooth hurts
It happens that our patient thinks that he definitely does not need to go to the dentist until his tooth hurts. After all, there is no problem until then. The importance of regular dental check-ups is also extremely important here. It may happen that the root dies unnoticed due to decay or other reasons. This causes severe inflammation later, requiring immediate medical intervention.
It may happen that there is no toothache, but rashes appear on the gums around it (fistula), which can be considered a sign of inflammation.
5. After that, you don't have to go to the dentist
This is a misconception, since root canal treatment consists of two or more treatments. The tooth can only be saved if the treating dentist can complete the root canal treatment. The pain will disappear after the first treatment, but it is important to remember that this does not mean that further treatment is no longer necessary. We get a permanently saved tooth if the treatment goes all the way through. A temporary filling does not provide permanent protection, as the name suggests.
Pain after root canal treatment
It is natural that as soon as the effect of the anesthetic or painkiller wears off, pain is felt. This does not affect the treated root, as it has been removed. It concerns more the surrounding areas, since they could have been affected by the intervention as well as the gums. However, compared to conventional methods, the innovative laser root treatment technique alleviates pain after surgery and speeds up the healing process.
If the pain persists for several days, see your dentist!
In case of teeth grinding, it is possible that the treated tooth is subjected to such pressure that the temporary filling cannot adequately support it. The high pressure can re-inflame the recently inflamed area, therefore it is definitely recommended to wear a mouthguard at night when sleeping.
If the pain is still significant, it is possible that the inflammation has spread to the jawbone and inflamed it as well. This is also indicated by pain in the jawbone or the swelling of the face.
It may also happen that there is no inflammation anymore, but we still feel pain. In this case, we are talking about phantom pain, there is nothing more to do with it, which will go away in a few days.
Aftercare
A painless root-treated tooth can last a lifetime with proper oral care and regular dental check-ups. It is worth noting that, despite this, the tooth can become discolored or easily brittle over time due to the lack of gum.
At our dental clinic, with the help of the available modern CAD/CAM technology, we can create an inlay/onlay or crown replacement for the remaining tooth root, which can easily remedy these problems as well.
Are there any downsides to root canal treatment?
Unfortunately, nothing is perfect, including root canal treatment. Because of its effect, the treated tooth may become discolored. In the past, due to a large amount of caries and inflammation, its structure is weakened. For the former, our dentists recommend teeth whitening, while for the latter, inlays, onlays, or crowns.
Why can a root canal tooth become discolored after root canal treatment?
- The most common cause of tooth discoloration is a small amount of pulp left inside the tooth. This decaying pulp can darken the tooth.
- A temporary filling to seal the root canal may contain dye material. This can discolor the tooth, turning it yellow or red, as it is in direct contact with the dentin, i.e. the surface of the tooth.
- Medicines taken during root canal treatment can also cause it.
- Smoking and frequent consumption of dark-colored drinks make teeth more prone to discoloration.
However, not all root canal treatments discolor or stain the tooth!
Root canal treatment = more sessions
We mentioned above that although the pain itself disappears after the first treatment, it is important to remember that this does not mean that the treatment has been completed. As the name of the temporary filling suggests, it only provides a temporary solution. A root canal treatment means 2-3 treatments on average, the number of treatments may increase depending on the severity of the problem of the treated tooth. In return, you can save your own tooth!
The most modern dental microscope
Designed for exceptional performance in root canal treatment, diagnostic screening and dental surgery, the state-of-the-art Prima Mμ microscope guarantees images of unparalleled quality.
The Prima Mμ device with a nuVar variable focal length lens is suitable for making reflection-free images with natural colors and contrasts.
The excellent lens and lighting meet all dental needs.
Advantages of the operating microscope in non-surgical root canal treatment
The microscope is an advanced technological tool that helps detect pain and better visibility of the condition of the teeth for a clear diagnosis. Among the disciplines of dentistry that require a microscope, we can mention root canal treatment, since in endodontics the work is carried out on a millimeter scale, at a depth of 10–30 mm in the space of the canal.
All procedures related to root canal treatment can be performed with high precision and safety using the equipment. The microscope allows you to:
- the identification of the present abnormalities from the tooth enamel to the depth of the root.
- finding possible cracks.
- the search for perforations and their treatment.
- research, diagnosis and treatment of internal/external resorptions.
- easier treatment of the dental cavity in case of very deep caries (or accidental damage).
Sealing microscopic root canals with a vertical root filling system
The Gutta-Smart warm vertical root canal system ensures safe and effective root canal filling. The vertical root filling technique means that the root canal is sealed from the crown of the tooth towards the tip, and this operation is repeated until the canal is completely filled.
At Medicover Dentistry, the final root filling is always performed after the most effective laser bactericidal and disinfecting treatment.