Conservative and Endodontics
The prevention and treatment of tooth decay is a very important aspect of our work at the clinic.
Patients with periodontal disease and exposed roots are more prone to developing root cavities. These types of cavities progress rapidly, destroying a large portion of the tooth structure. Their treatment requires high precision to restore the tooth using complex techniques.
The Conservative and Endodontics unit is responsible for treating and preventing destructive dental processes. Cavities are a bacterial disease that destroys dental tissue and, if untreated, can even infect the nerve.
The treatment for tooth decay consists of eliminating the infected tissue and replacing it with a biocompatible material to prevent that area from being infected again.
If these cavities or any other pathology reach the nerve, it becomes necessary to remove it and fill the gap with a natural resin, this is what we call Root Canal Treatment or Endodontic Treatment. This procedure is very precise and requires several sessions.
Due to the significant loss of dental structure, a tooth that has undergone a Root Canal Treatment is very vulnerable to fracture. For this reason, in many cases it is recommended to protect it with a full coverage Crown, and it is very important to follow all of the recommendations given by the endodontist and attend the advised check-up appointments.
The success rate of Root Canal Fillings or Endodontic treatment is around 90-95%, however there is a possibility of failure leading to reinfection. In such cases, the alternative treatment is Re-Endodontics, whose success rate is considerably lower than the initial treatment.
There is a small percentage of cases in which a tooth that has undergone Root Canal Treatment may become discolored developing a darker shade. For this reason, there are multiple therapeutic alternatives to treat it, such as teeth whitening, veneers or crowns which can restore the tooth's natural color.
The importance of maintaining the tooth
The treatment of severely damaged teeth is often complex and time-consuming, so the success rate varies depending on each individual case. It is essential to evaluate the pros and cons of keeping a tooth, which means that information is key, you will always be informed about the prognosis of the tooth and the different treatment alternatives available.
No implant or prosthesis is ever the same as a natural tooth, therefore, whenever possible, the most conservative treatment for each situation will be performed. If this is not possible, you will be informed of all the different options available to replace the missing tooth.
Postoperative Recommendations
Dental fillings (restorations) often cause postoperative sensitivity, which usually decreases over the following days without the need for additional treatment.
There are cases, when the cavity is very close to the nerve, a filling is chosen as the conservative treatment of choice. A percentage of these cases lead to inflammation of the nerve, making it necessary to perform a root canal treatment.
After a root canal filling, it is normal to experience some postoperative discomfort due to manipulation of dental tissues. Therefore, it is very important to follow the endodontist's instructions to minimise possible side effects.
If the root canal treatment and reconstruction are not performed on the same day, you should avoid chewing on the affected side to prevent a fracture of the healthy tooth structure.
Between appointments, the treatment is normally filled with temporary filling materials, which are more fragile than permanent ones. You should be careful in that area and, if it were to come loose, you should visit the clinic immediately to have it replaced and prevent infection.
The Importance of Prevention
Treating tooth decay as a whole does not simply mean placing fillings.
At the Martinez Canut Dental Clinic, prevention is our main objective.
Please see below a few basic guidelines for the prevention of cavities:
- Maintain proper oral hygiene.
- Use fluoride toothpaste.
- Avoid dry mouth (use sugar-free chewing gums, saliva stimulating supplements…)
- Avoid "snacking" between meals, especially foods high in sugar.
- Follow a diet low in sugary foods, avoiding sticky sweets, and include foods rich in fiber such as fruit and vegetables. Dairy products such as yogurt, milk and cheese also help prevent tooth decay.
Frequent Questions
- What is Root Canal Treatment?
Endodontics, Root Canal Treatment, or commonly known as "Killing of the Nerve", is a conservative procedure that involves removing the infected tissue inside root canals in order to treat diseases affecting them.
- Who does the treatment?
Currently, all dentists are authorised to perform the procedure. However, there is postgraduate training where professionals can specialise in this field and obtain the title of endodontic specialist, increasing the quality of treatments and achieving a success rate of nine out ten treated teeth.
- How can Endodontic Treatment save a tooth?
The endodontist carefully removes the inflamed infected pulp (nerve), disinfects and shapes the canals, and then seals them hermetically with a natural resin, normally gutta-percha. It is a very long and complex procedure that requires specialised training and has traditionally required multiple clinical sessions.
At the Martinez Canut Dental Clinic, thanks to our specialised staff and advances technology: magnification, electronic apex locators, rotatory endodontics, digital radiography and thermoplastic gutta-percha… we are able to perform Root Canal Treatment in a single session, typically requiring two sessions under normal conditions to achieve a fully functional tooth.
- What is magnification? Is it necessary?
Magnification refers to the use of visual enhancement tools during Root Canal Treatment. Every time one of these treatments is performed, it involves a microdental surgery, as the canals where the nerve is located measures between 0,006 and 0,10 mm of diameter. To ensure a high quality treatment, it is important to see clearly, and in endodontics, to be able to see the interior of the tooth, instruments that enlarge the working field are required.
- Root Canal Therapy, Is it painful?
Nowadays, thanks to available anesthetic techniques, Root Canal Treatment is completely painless. After the procedure, once the anesthesia wears off, it is normal to experience some temporary discomfort due to inflammation of the tissues that surround the tooth. You simply need to follow your dentist's instructions to minimise any postoperative effects.
- Is it possible for a tooth to darken after an endodontic treatment?
With proper technique and the use of high-quality materials, the risk of the tooth darkening is minimised as much as possible. However, there is a slight possibility that the tooth may change color after the treatment, this is why there are conservative options to correct postoperative discolouration, such as internal whitening, veneers or crowns, which are a conservative way to restore the tooth's natural appearance.
- Is it forever?
In medicine, there is no such thing as a "lifetime guarantee". The success rate is very high, 9 out of 10 treated teeth survive. This percentage decreases significantly when a previous root canal filling has failed (retreatment) , depending on the initial state of the tooth. If the treatment were to fail, it may be necessary to repeat the procedure alongside a surgical treatment (Apicoectomy), or, in the worse-case scenario, extract the affected tooth.
- Are teeth weaker after an Endodontic Treatment?
Due to the significant loss of tooth structure, a tooth that has undergone Root Canal Therapy is more vulnerable and susceptible to fracture. Therefore, in many cases it is recommended to protect it with a full-coverage crown, being very important to follow your endodontist's recommendations and attend the scheduled check-ups.
- Is there an alternative treatment?
At the moment, Root Canal Therapy is the only treatment available for diseases affecting the Dentin-Pulp Complex (nerve). The only alternative would be to extract the tooth, but, let's not forget, there's nothing like a natural tooth.