10 Questions
What is the reason that may cause a root canal therapy to fail?
Unnoticed canal malformations
Why should you avoid chewing hard on a tooth after endodontic therapy?
It is more prone to fracture until fully restored
Why does a tooth not become 'dead' after root canal therapy?
It is still supplied by blood vessels in the periodontal ligament
What should be done to an endodontically treated tooth before chewing on it?
Fully restore it by the dentist
What makes it difficult to endodontically treat a tooth?
Inaccessible root canals
What contributes to advancing the ability to save teeth through endodontic treatment?
Technological developments in endodontics
When can most endodontic treatments be completed?
In 1-2 visits
What should you do if your tooth lacks sufficient bone support for endodontic treatment?
It becomes difficult to treat endodontically
What can make endodontic treatment impossible for a tooth?
Severely fractured root
Why is it important to visit your dentist for full restoration after endodontic treatment?
An unrestored tooth is susceptible to fracture
Study Notes
Introduction to Endodontics
- Endodontics is the branch of clinical dentistry that deals with the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of pathosis of the dental pulp and its sequelae.
- The main aim of endodontic therapy is to maintain vitality of the pulp, preserve and restore teeth with damaged and necrotic pulp, and preserve teeth that have failed previous endodontic therapy.
Scope of Endodontics
- Vital pulp therapy (pulp capping, pulpotomy)
- Diagnosis and differential diagnosis of oral pain
- Root canal treatment of teeth with or without periradicular pathology of pulpal origin
- Surgical management of pathology resulting from pulpal pathosis
- Management of avulsed teeth (replantation)
- Endodontic implants
- Root end resections, hemisections, and root resections
- Retreatment of teeth previously treated endodontically
- Bleaching of discolored teeth
- Coronal restorations of teeth using post and cores
Indications for Nonsurgical Root Canal Treatment
- Symptomatic or asymptomatic irreversible pulpitis, with or without evidence of periapical disease
- Necrotic pulp with or without evidence of periradicular disease
- Teeth with a pulp that would be compromised during dental procedures
- Restorative reason when a placement of a core and possibly a post is necessary for retention of a fixed restoration
- Cracked or fractured teeth with pulpal involvement
- Teeth with thermal hypersensitivity that significantly interferes with normal function
Contra-Indications for Nonsurgical Root Canal Treatment
- Non-restorable teeth
- Insufficient periodontal support
- Vertical fracture
- Condition of the remaining dentition
- Non-strategic teeth
Who Performs an Endodontic Therapy?
- General dentists often refer patients to endodontists
- Endodontists are specialists who undergo additional training in endodontics after completing dental school
Why Do I Feel Pain?
- Infected pulp causes increased blood flow and cellular activity, leading to pressure and pain
- Pulp can die without causing significant pain
How Can You Tell if Pulp is Infected?
- Toothache on taking hot or cold, spontaneous pain, pain on biting or on lying down
- Drainage, swelling, and abscess at the root end
- Sometimes, there are no symptoms
Why Do I Need Root Canal Therapy?
- Tooth will not heal by itself
- Infection may spread around the tissues, causing destruction of bone and supporting tissue
- Root canal treatment is done to save the damaged pulp by thorough cleaning and shaping of the root canal system and filling it with gutta-percha
Alternatives to Root Canal Therapy
- Extraction is the only alternative if the tooth is seriously damaged and its support is compromised
What is Root Canal Procedure?
- Numbing the area with local anesthetic
- Isolating the tooth with a rubber sheet
- Making an opening in the crown of the tooth
- Cleaning the pulp from the pulp chamber and root canals
- Filling the root canals with gutta-percha
- Restoring the tooth with a crown or other restoration
What are Risks and Complications?
- Over 95% of endodontic therapy cases are successful
Learn about the conditions warranting endodontic therapy and extraction of non-strategic teeth based on patient motivation, oral hygiene, and missing teeth. Understand the importance of seeking treatment from an endodontist for optimal care.
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