Root canal treatment is the restoration and preservation of a severely damaged or infected tooth, as well as the treatment of the bone surrounding the top of the root.

Indications for endodontic treatment

When the pulp becomes infected, when bacteria enter through a deep carious cavity or as a result of trauma, it can necroticize (i.e., die). When it is damaged or necrotic, blood flow and cellular activity increase. Severe inflammation begins, followed by tissue swelling and nerve compression. The increased pressure in the pulp does not find a way out and causes pain. Thus, when paying attention to a problem tooth, it can be localized or radiating to the ear, temple, or back of the head. But even if the pain has stopped, this does not mean that the problem is solved. The symptoms are gone, but if the cause is not eliminated, the infection can spread to the surrounding bone. This is how periodontitis occurs.

Root canal treatment consists of several successive stages:

Differential diagnosis – objective and auxiliary examination methods.
Effective anesthesia
Preparation of the carious cavity – removal of affected tooth tissues, old fillings, formation of access to the tooth cavity
Isolation of the working field with cofferdam from saliva, bacteria, aggressive solutions

The microscope allows you to qualitatively clean the root system under full visual control, as well as see cracks or perforations – those factors in which treatment does not make sense. The decision to remove is made at the initial stage, and the patient does not waste time and money on ineffective treatment.

Root canal filling is either thermophilic filling (heated gutta-percha) or gutta-percha condensation. These are methods that allow you to fill the root canal cavity tightly, leaving no room for infection. The mentioned materials do not shrink, do not change the color of the tooth and do not dissolve over time. This is important, because the durability of the saved tooth depends on the quality of treatment.

After the treatment, control X-ray diagnostics of the tooth is necessary, then routinely in six months, and then once a year for the next three years.

What does pain after root canal filling mean?

After endodontic treatment, a person usually feels a characteristic pain. It is tolerable and can normally last for several days, up to a month. Pain does not determine the quality of treatment and does not necessarily indicate complications. However, it is a good reason to consult a dentist.

What should I do to avoid complications?

In order to avoid negative phenomena due to endodontic treatment, the doctor should perform X-ray control. The image should not show any darkening or transparent areas of the canals. A properly filled root canal has perfect outlines and tone without any spots or translucency.

The patient also needs to follow simple rules:

• temporarily refuse hot food
• exclude spicy spices from the diet
• do not drink alcohol
• ensure a quiet leisure time
• refrain from physical activity in the gym

Thus, effective endodontic treatment consists in sealing root canals with filling materials. In modern dentistry, heated gutta-percha is used for this purpose. Since it has a liquid consistency when heated, it perfectly fills the entire tooth canal cavity, leaving no unfilled areas. Therefore, the methods of lateral condensation of gutta-percha and thermophilic filling practically do not cause complications. In addition, you should inquire about the qualifications of the dentist performing the filling. It is important to follow the rules of hygiene and doctor’s recommendations for the post-treatment period0

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Often tooth decay is not noticeable at the initial stage, and in 70% of cases patients seek treatment when a large area of the tooth is already affected.

Neck caries is the most insidious, because it develops in areas where the enamel of teeth is the thinnest. That is why the development of dental caries is faster, and if you do not seek treatment, you can lose a tooth.

What is dental caries

Neck caries is caries that develops in the tooth’s near-peripheral area (tooth neck). Dentists classify tooth decay as “neck decay” because of the localization of the disease.

In the initial stages, caries in the vestibular area is unnoticeable and does not cause pain. As we said earlier, the disease progresses quickly: without the necessary treatment, the decay quickly affects the pulp of the tooth and the patient has painful sensations – often as the first noticeable symptom.

The structure of a tooth includes three parts:

• The crown (the visible part of the tooth);
• the neck (the closest tissue from the crown of the tooth to the gum);
• the root (we can’t see it, it’s under the gum).
• Neck area of the tooth

Very often, patients confuse “tooth root decay” with “tooth neck decay”. Below we provide an illustration that shows their differences.

Neck caries: causes of development

The causes of neck caries – can be completely different, so we will tell you about the main ones that can lead to its development.

Poor hygiene
It is insufficient oral hygiene that becomes the reason why caries develops (not only in the neck area).

Soft plaque builds up on the teeth.
Bacteria multiply in the plaque and produce organic acid.

The acid leads to tooth decay – cavities.
Good oral hygiene minimizes the development of decay in the neck and other parts of the tooth.

Gum disease
Another factor that often causes tooth decay to develop in the neck area.

Plaque and germs accumulate in periodontal pockets, which is why tooth decay develops in the neck area.

So even gingivitis (the mildest form of gum disease) can cause tooth decay in the neck area.

Enamel demineralization
Despite the fact that tooth enamel is the hardest tissue in the human body (75% is made up of inorganic substances), it can also “weaken” under the influence of various factors.

Enamel can be affected by a variety of factors:

• the patient’s diet (frequent consumption of sweet drinks, flour products, juices, wines, citrus fruits and foods high in starch);
• lack of fluoride in the body (in case of fluoride deficiency it is necessary to perform fluoridation of teeth – their saturation with fluoride);
• bad habits (smoking, alcohol consumption).

Treatment of dental caries

In general, the treatment of caries in the neck area depends on the stage of pathology. The earlier the patient applies for treatment, the more conservative and cheaper the treatment will cost.

Before treating neck caries, the doctor assesses the situation and the stage of development of pathology.

At the initial stage, when caries in the stage of a small spot, treatment is carried out by the most conservative method.

Doctors carry out:

• Professional cleaning of teeth (removal of soft plaque and tartar)
• Fluoridation and remineralization of the affected area of the tooth.
• Next, the dental therapist makes recommendations to the patient on home care of the oral cavity.

With conservative treatment of dental caries, it is necessary to keep an eye on the area where the treatment was performed and attend scheduled dental consultations – for a professional checkup.

Treatment of superficial and middle stage dental caries
If the treatment was not carried out at the initial stage and the carious area has already destroyed the first layer of enamel, the doctor removes the carious cavity and installs a photopolymer filling.

Treatment is carried out in two stages:

• Removal of the carious area.
• Restoration of the tooth using composite materials.

In some cases, to improve the aesthetics of the tooth, patients are fitted with ceramic veneers.

What will happen if you do not treat dental caries in the advanced stage?
A tooth may be so decayed that it cannot be treated. As a result, the tooth will have to be extracted.

In addition, there is another danger: a neglected tooth decay can spread to neighboring teeth and damage them (intercontact decay).

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WHERE IT COMES FROM

To cope with the problem, it will be possible only after studying the causes of its occurrence. If it comes to the odor of breath, it is:

Insufficient or poor oral hygiene. If you do not brush your teeth 2 times a day, forget about the tongue, then the odor is likely to be. It is important to treat caries and other oral pathologies in time;
stress. The hormone cortisol, released in stressful situations, can provoke the accelerated development of pathogenic microflora, in the mouth including. Some other hormones can do the same;
drinking water in insufficient quantities. The norm of 2-2.5 liters can vary depending on the human body, but if it is significantly less than the norm, then in conditions of dryness and warmth of the oral cavity, pathogens quickly multiply and provoke unpleasant odor;
diets – with severe dietary restrictions or long breaks between meals, the body burns fat for energy. This also provokes bad odor;
pathologic conditions. This includes pathologies of tonsils, sinuses, stomach, kidneys, pancreas;
infestation of the mucosa with fungus. It can be recognized by the presence of white or yellow plaque on the tongue, mucous membranes, well, and by a strong unpleasant odor.

Methods of struggle

Those who suffer from an unpleasant odor are looking for ways to get rid of it. The first is thorough oral hygiene. This includes 2 times brushing the teeth, tongue, cheeks. It is worth flossing to remove hard food particles from the interdental space. It is important to choose the right toothpaste. Bad breath in the morning will help to remove evening brushing, as well as drinking a glass of water and a solid breakfast.

Regular visits to the dentist are also important, it is actually inexpensive. If any pathologies are detected early, treatment will not only be faster, but significantly cheaper.

Odor can also provoke a strong-smelling food. If you are a fan of onions, garlic, spices, coffee, alcohol, it is worth reducing their consumption or not at all. The cost of such prevention is minimal, except for the struggle with your own habits.

It is important to eliminate mouth breathing, in which the mouth dries out, which creates an acceptable environment for bacteria, in which they instantly multiply. Before going to bed, it is worth cleaning the nasal passages, perhaps rinse the nose with a saline solution. That is, do everything to avoid problems with nasal breathing at night, because it is in sleep a person can unconsciously breathe through the mouth.

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