ENDODONTIC TREATMENT (ROOT CANAL TREATMENT)

When tooth decays are not treated in the early stage they proceed and reach the pulp (small room consisting veins and nerves of teeth) and create severe pain by causing infectious alterations here.  Infectious bacteria spread to the jaw bone by leaking from the root end. The infection inside the jaw bone causes tooth loss and also destruction of surrounding tissue.

Before this stage, tooth can be saved by removing the unhealthy pulp tissue for protection of the tooth and surrounding tissue. After cleaning the pulp tissue under anesthesia, canals are shaped and disinfected. Following these procedures, root canal space is filled with special materials. As opposed to the popular belief, those procedures can be performed without feeling any pain and the tooth may survive inside the mouth for long years.

ENDODONTIC SURGERY (APICAL RESECTION)

Teeth can lost their vitality due to over decaying, sensitivity to applied materials, impact and chronic trauma. In those situations, removing the nerves of the teeth and endodontic treatment may be necessary. If endodontic treatment is not performed and in some cases even it is performed, infectious areas can be formed at the end of the root. Those areas that have growing tendency by itself also may have cystic transformation growing by the time.

Surgical  approach may be required when those inflammatory areas occur at the root ends of teeth. During this surgical operation which is called apical resection, reached at the apex of the teeth through opening a window on gingiva  and cleaned the root area involving infection and cystic area until reaching the healthy bone. If it is necessary, the cut end of the root may be isolated with filling materials which are called amalgam or MTA. The bone cavity which occurred due to the removing of infectious area can be filled with bone grafts and thus the quality and rate of recovery can be increased. Your doctor can request for endodontic retreatment.

Apical resection is a procedure which is performed for holding your teeth inside the oral cavity as possible. Therefore, those teeth having shortened roots should be used as carefully as possible and should stay away from over bearings.