The endodontics concerns with the diseases of tooth’s pulp. The pulp is located in the
center of the tooth and in the root canals within each tooth root. The pulp, which
consists of connective tissue, nerves and blood vessels, nourishes the tooth when the
tooth erupts. The pulp can be removed safely from the pulp chamber and root canals,
after the tooth becomes mature. The endodontic treatment is the removing of the pulp
that is also known as the root canal treatment or root canal therapy.
If there is an infection or an irreversible damage to the pulp the root canal treatment
is needed. An untreated cavity is a may cause the pulp infection. The enamel and the
dentin of the tooth are eroded by the decay until it opens into the root canal system.
And the bacteria infect the pulp. The antibiotic treatments are not effective for the
infections inside teeth. The infection causes the inflammation and this inflammation
restricts the tooth’s blood supply. So it is difficult for the antibiotics in the
bloodstream to reach the infection. Also the reduced blood supplies; make it difficult
for the pulp to heal itself.
Because of a fracture, trauma or extensive restorative work such as several fillings
placed over a period of time, the pulp can become damaged. A common dental procedure can
cause the inflammation of the pulp too. Preparation for a crown may necessitate the
canal treatment for the root.
In many cases, although there isn’t an infection, the pulp can be inflamed. It is
monitored to see if this happened or not before doing root canal treatment. When the
pulp remains inflamed it may cause pain and lead to infection. The infection formed in
the pulp may cause an abscess by affecting the bone around the tooth. The aim of the
root canal treatment is to save the tooth by removing the infected or damaged pulp,
treating any infection and filling the empty canals with a filling material. The tooth
may have to be extracted if root canal treatment is not done.
It is better to keep natural teeth. A missing tooth can make the neighboring teeth
to drift out of line. Keeping natural teeth helps you to avoid more expensive and
extensive treatments like implants or bridges. If a root canal treatment is not done to
an injured and infected tooth, it will be a focal infection for body.
It does not mean that after having an endodontic treatment on a tooth, the tooth will
not be pulled out in a few years. Usually the root canal treatment is done because of
large cavity. The tooth becomes weakened but if the tooth is covered with a crown or
restored with tooth-colored composite filling material after a root canal treatment, the
tooth can last the rest of the life.