ENDODONTICS

Endodontics regards the diagnosis and treatment of teeth in cases where extensive destruction (caries or fracture) exposes their pulp. The pulp is the inner soft tissue of the tooth, which includes its nerve. A dental injury affecting the pulp of the tooth is almost always accompanied by pain, which can be acute in many occasions.

If the tooth remains untreated the condition becomes chronic and a symptomatic or asymptomatic abscess is formed around the root of the infected tooth.

Endodontic treatment, commonly called root canal treatment, is the treatment during which the pulp of the diseased tooth is removed and the interior of the tooth is processed, cleaned and filled with a special material. Therefore, extraction is avoided and preservation of the tooth in the oral cavity is achieved. More than one appointment is usually needed to complete an endodontic treatment.

Endodontically treated teeth are prone to fractures, therefore the fabrication of a crown is usually recommended after the completion of the endodontic treatment, in order to minimize the risk of a future fracture. When necessary, depending on the complexity of the case, the patient may be referred to a specialist (endodontist).