Endodontics - ROOT CANAL THERAPY

Endodontic treatment is concerned with the fine space inside the tooth called the root canal. This small area contains the dental pulp which is made up of nerves and blood vessels and other connective tissues.

If the dental pulp becomes diseased or dies it may result in a toothache or abscess. The dental pulp may be damaged due to infection subsequent to:

•    Caries (Decay) • Deep Fillings and leakage
•    Trauma and tooth fracture • Gum disease

Sometimes there may be no apparent cause but all of the above can result in pain and root canal treatment is most often needed for the relief from this pain and to prevent further problems. During treatment the health of the dental pulp and the surrounding tissues will be assessed with the help of a clinical examination, radiographs and special tests, as sometimes it may be difficult to identify the exact tooth which is causing the problem.



A cavity will be cut through the chewing surface of the tooth to gain access to the root canal(s). The root canal(s) will be cleaned, shaped, and therefore disinfected with fine dental instruments. Then the root canals will be sealed near to their tip with an inert filling material called gutta-percha. The tooth will finally be restored back to its original function.

This treatment may take several visits and the tooth will have a temporary dressing between sessions. The treatment will be made as painless as possible using local anaesthetic and painkillers. Teeth requiring root treatment will often have had very large restorations in them previously or have been badly damaged. In order to restore them adequately and protect the root filling from further infection a cast cuspal coverage restoration (crown) is strongly recommended, particularly in posterior teeth.
 
We have access to an operating microscope to enhance vision during endodontic procedures in a surgery fitted with all the equipment necessary for this treatment.

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The Kodak 9000 3D Extraoral Imaging System

This system enables dental professionals to obtain low dose, high-resolution three-dimensional (3D) images, as well as panoramic images. This unique “two-in-one” system (3D and panoramic) is a well suited piece of dental equipment for those who regularly perform complex diagnostic, restorative, surgical, and endodontic procedures. Its user-friendly design, intuitive software interface and compact footprint—similar to that of a traditional panoramic unit—make it easy to implement in any dental practice.



“The KODAK 9000 3D system can be considered a new category of imaging system, providing the advantages of high-resolution, relatively low dose limited volume 3D imaging. It is also a fully functional digital panoramic system that permits careful selection of regions of interest where high resolution 3D imaging will improve patient diagnosis and treatment.”