Modern endodontics (root canal treatment), dental clinic at Lake Phoenix

What we show when we smile is only the tip of the iceberg. The “inside” of the tooth that we do not see is reserved for the area of endodontics, the so-called “tooth anatomy”.

Endodontics comes from Greek and means as much as the science of the inside of the tooth.

Below the enamel mantle (the hardest substance in the human organism by the way) and under the dentin (dentin, bone-like, hard tissue), lies the so-called pulp. The pulp contains blood vessels, lymph vessels, connective tissue and nerve fibres. The pulp extends from the crown of the tooth to the tip of the root, provides the teeth with nutrients and takes on important tasks in tooth formation. Once the tooth has fully developed, it can live on without pulp.

Endodontics = root canal treatment = root treatment = innovative biological tooth preservation

Teeth have priority

The beginnings of endodontic treatment can already be traced back to ancient Rome and Greece. At that time toothaches were treated by burning out the pulp with a hot needle. Modern endodontics was developed in the USA and represents an innovative, complex and demanding dental procedure of root canal treatment. The aim is to preserve the natural tooth as much as possible.

Wie? “You can only treat what you see“

Root canal treatment in the dental clinic at Phoenixsee, Dortmund

Special high-tech precision instruments (such as the surgical microscope and ultrasound-supported rinsing of the root canals) and complex treatment techniques (such as electrometric length determination of the tooth root and mechanical sterile disposable instruments) enable three-dimensional root canal treatment. In this way, even the smallest structures inside the tooth can be detected and freed from bacteria and tissue residues. This way the bacterial load can be fought almost as safely as the removal of a dead tooth.

Of paramount importance in endodontic surgery is that all tissue residues, bacteria etc. are removed thoroughly and without trace. For this reason, endodontic therapy is much more time-consuming and material-intensive than conventional root canal filling.

What happens with a typical endodontic treatment and in what order?

  1. The tooth is opened to remove the pulp tissue. The tooth is insulated with a rubber dam (small rubber blanket made of latex) to prevent bacteria from penetrating from the oral cavity or saliva.
  2. The channel length is determined.
  3. The root canal system is prepared.
  4. The root canals are cleaned and disinfected.
  5. The root canals are filled bacteria-proof; mostly with gutta-percha, an elastic natural material. It is important that the canal is tightly filled to prevent the growth of bacteria and thus reinfection.
  6. The tooth is closed again with a filling and, if necessary, stabilized with a crown and thus protected from possible fractures.

Through the use of precision techniques, the success rates in endodontic root canal treatments have increased enormously and are now over 90 percent. On the other hand, the degree of loading for the patient and his teeth is much lower, e.g. compared to implants or bridges.

Tooth preservation is worthwhile in every respect! Get more information at your next appointment in the dental clinic at Lake Phoenix. [/vc_column_text]

The root tip resection … another dictionary word from the dental vocabulary. Sounds threatening, but in reality it is not as nerve-racking as pulling teeth and often the last chance to keep your teeth upright. In about 97 percent of all cases, the tooth can be saved.

In root tip resection, the evil (the inflammation) at the (tooth) root is packed (capped): the tips of inflamed tooth roots (approx. the lowest three millimetres of the infected root tips) and the inflamed tissue are cut off. A root tip resection hardly hurts and is a much more harmless procedure than pulling a tooth.

Why do the roots of the teeth inflame?

For example, if caries penetrates to the root, teeth die as a result of a jaw injury or in the case of a filling of the root canal, the filling material in the root apex does not reach the last corner of the canal. Around the tip of the root there is inflammation, sometimes an abscess or pus develops.

When is the root tip resection performed?

When root tip inflammation cannot be cured by conventional root canal treatment or root canal treatment is not possible. Other possible indications include abnormal root proportions, tooth injuries, cysts, etc.

Is there a catch here?

The resection of the root apex does restore the tooth, but it also has disadvantages: The root of the tooth becomes shorter, which makes the tooth more unstable. Thus it can no longer be used as a single abutment tooth for a bridge.

How does a root tip resection work?

The procedure is performed under local anesthesia, approximately in the following steps:

  • Separation of the gums and the periosteum
  • The bone is made freely accessible
  • Degradation of the bone in the root tip area until it and the inflamed tissue can be seen freely.
  • Resection of the root tip by 2-3 millimeters to remove the branches of the root canal in the root tip area as completely as possible.
  • Extension, disinfection & filling of the root canal
  • Closure and suturing of the soft tissue
  • control radiography
  • Temporary closure of the tooth crown
  • Final filling after complete wound healing (usually after 7-10 days)
  • X-ray control of bone healing (after 3-6 months)

After the root apex resection, the root apex resection should be preceded by

Before the operation you should pay particular attention to good dental hygiene. The teeth should be brushed regularly, tartar removed and gingivitis healed. Even after the root tip resection treatment, the tooth should be well cared for in order to be able to perform well for many years. Inadequate oral hygiene endangers the resected tooth because it has become more sensitive due to root tip resection. So if you cannot fall back on a busy toothbrush fairy, it is often better to pull the tooth even and fall back on a dental prosthesis.

Does the health insurance cover the costs of the root tip resection?

Yes, if the tooth is considered worth preserving.

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Christina Cherry
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