Endodontics.

     A department of dentistry involving diagnosis, prevention and treatment of dental pulp (the nerves and blood vessels inside the tooth) Nothing is as good as a natural tooth! And sometimes your natural tooth may need root canal (endodontic) treatment for it to remain a healthy part of your mouth.
     Root canal treatment(RCT) is also known as endodontic therapy. A root canal is a dental procedure in which a diseased or injured tooth is repaired by removing the damaged portion of the tooth, pulpal tissue (or nerve). In addition to nerve fibers, the pulpal tissue also contains arteries, veins, lymph vessels, and connective tissue and then sealing up the tooth to protect it from further injury. Root canals are often the most feared procedure by regular visitors to the dentist's office .

       Under the skillful guidance of our specialized team of dentists root canal treatment is a painless and a fairly uncomplicated procedure unlike what most people fear.



How does endodontic treatment save the tooth?
    The endodontist removes the inflamed or infected pulp, carefully cleans and shapes the inside of the canal, a channel inside the root, then fills and seals the space. Afterwards, you will return to your dentist, who will place a crown or other restoration on the tooth to protect and restore it to full function. After restoration, the tooth continues to function like any other tooth.

Treatment Procedure
	Step 1 After the tooth is anesthetized, an opening is made through the crown into the pulp chamber.
	Step 2 The lengths of the roots' canals are determined.
	Step 3 Unhealthy pulp is removed. Canals are cleaned, enlarged and shaped using progressively larger endodontic files.
	Step 4 Canals are filled and sealed. A metal post may be added for structural support or to retain restorative materials.
	Step 5 The tooth is sealed with a tempory filling. Usually a gold or porcelain crown adds further protection.
The material used to fill your root canal will probably last you a lifetime, but eventually the filling or crown may need to be replaced.

Can all teeth be treated endodontically?
     Most teeth can be treated. Occasionally, a tooth can’t be saved because the root canals are not accessible, the root is severely fractured, the tooth doesn’t have adequate bone support, or the tooth cannot be restored. However, advances in endodontics are making it possible to save teeth that even a few years ago would have been lost. When endodontic treatment is not effective, endodontic surgery may be able to save the tooth.

What Are the Goals of Root Canal Treatment?
      As an alternative to an extraction, the goals of root canal treatment are to save the tooth and allow it to be retained in the mouth for many years in a state of health, function, and comfort. Root canal treatment is directed towards removing diseased tissue from the inside of the tooth and subsequently filling and sealing the root canal space in order to minimize the possibility of future re-infection.

Why Is Root Canal Treatment Called Endodontic Treatment?
     Endodontic is a word composed of two Greek words, "endo" meaning "inside," and "odont" meaning "tooth." Endodontics is that branch of dentistry that deals with the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of diseases that arise from the soft tissues inside the tooth. These tissues are referred to as the dental pulp and they occupy the root canal space. Thus, endodontic treatment is also called root canal treatment.

If a Tooth Has Had Root Canal Treatment, Is It a Dead Tooth?
     Root canal treatment does not kill a tooth. Even though root canal treatment removes the pulp tissue from inside the tooth, the tooth is by no means "dead." Following successful endodontic treatment, the tooth continues to receive its blood supply and nourishment from the surrounding tissues and the supporting bone. The body's immune system continues to recognize an endodontically treated tooth as viable and healthy, just as it recognizes any other normal non-treated tooth. An endodontically treated tooth generally requires a protective crown and, once this restoration has been completed, the tooth continues to function as an integral component of the dental arch. A tooth that has had root canal treatment and has been properly restored is no more susceptible to fracture, decay, or gum disease than any other tooth.

The Root Reasons For A Root Canal -
    Many people flinch when their dentists tell them they need root canal therapy. While dentists are sympathetic to fears of pain, they also want patients to know that root canal therapy has three purposes:
     :: Stop the toothache
     :: Prevent bacteria and pain from spreading into the jaw
     :: Maintain the original tooth instead of replacing it with a denture or bridge.
       The root canal is actually a channel that runs from the root of the tooth, to the top surface of the tooth, and connects it to the bone. The canal contains blood vessels, nerves, and the complex cells that make up the living tissue inside the tooth. This lifeline inside the tooth is called the pulp.
       When a tooth is decayed or cracked, bacteria can get to the pulp. The acid from the bacteria irritates the pulp and it becomes inflamed; it's the same process you watch when other parts of your body become infected. When the pulp tissue becomes inflamed, it's harder for blood to flow to the tissue, and the resulting pressure creates pain inside your tooth.
There are two ways to get relief from the pain: perform the root canal therapy, or pull the tooth, clean the gum below, and replace the tooth with a denture or bridge. Dentists advise pulling teeth as a last resort because they know that your natural teeth are the ones best suited for your mouth.
       It's important to have root canal therapy done quickly. The bacteria will travel down the canal to the root and into the jawbone. If this happens, the pain of your toothache will spread to your jaw. Even more important, the infection can cause your jawbone to deteriorate and weaken the structure that holds your teeth.
      The best way to avoid root canals is to take good daily care of your teeth to prevent the growth and spread of bacteria. Brushing and flossing are important. Just as important are regular trips to the dentist, to check for the first sign of decay or cracks that could eventually lead to an infected tooth. In this case, an ounce of prevention really is worth a pound of cure!

What Are the Most Common Symptoms of Endodontic Disease?

   Endodontic disease can manifest itself with a wide variety and combination of
   symptoms. Common symptoms of endodontic disease include:
 :: Lingering tooth sensitivity to cold liquids.
 :: Lingering tooth sensitivity to hot liquids.
 :: Tooth sensitivity to sweets.
 :: Tooth pain to biting pressure.
 :: Tooth pain that is referred from a tooth to another area, such as the neck,
    temple, or the ear.
 :: Spontaneous toothache, such as that experienced while reading a magazine,
    watching television, etc.
 :: Constant or intermittent tooth pain.
 :: Severe tooth pain.
 :: Throbbing tooth pain.
 :: Tooth pain that may occur in response to atmospheric pressure changes, such
    as when flying or scuba diving.
 :: Tooth pain that may occur in response to postural changes, such as when
    going from a standing to a reclining position.
 :: Tooth Swelling.

     If you have any of these symptoms, it would be wise to see your dentist because you might have root canal disease or another dental problem. Some of these symptoms may also be attributable to decay, defective fillings, periodontal diseases, cracked teeth, or other tooth or bite-related problems. On other occasions, the symptoms may even be caused by disorders that are not related to the teeth.

Why May Endodontic Disease Cause Swelling?
     When the pulp tissue becomes severely diseased and necrotic, the resultant infection can spread from inside the tooth into the adjacent bone and soft tissues. As a result, swelling can occur in the tissues immediately surrounding the tooth. If this situation is not treated and the disease process is not kept under control by the body's defences, the infection can begin to spread into other tissue spaces, such as those around the eye or in the neck. In some situations, this can become a serious medical emergency.

Alternatives To Root Canal Treatment -
    The only alternative to root canal treatment is the extraction of the problematic tooth. It is wise to consider all of the implications of losing a tooth before having it removed. The decision should not be made hastily or because the tooth is painful. If pain is present and the dentist thinks that the tooth can be saved, the discomfort can first be relieved and then the alternatives explored.
The discussion about tooth replacement alternatives after extraction can be complex because each individual situation is unique and, at times, various specialists may need to be consulted. When considering the alternatives for replacing a missing tooth, a few of the major factors to consider are the long-term predictabilities of the various alternatives, the overall chair time involved in treatment, the esthetic results, the effects on the adjacent and opposing teeth, and the costs. The usual alternatives that a patient has after tooth extraction are:

 :: A restored dental implant. This restoration involves a surgical procedure to insert the dental implant into the bone, a healing phase of several months, and a final restorative phase, which is similar to having a single tooth crown. Significant time and laboratory costs are involved.

 :: A fixed bridge. Fabricating a fixed bridge requires cutting down ("preparing") the teeth next to the missing tooth so that they can receive the artificial crowns that support the replacement tooth. These teeth must be strong and healthy if they are to be effective bridge supports. Preparing the teeth for crowns could have a detrimental effect on their pulp health, depending on a variety of factors. This possibility needs to be discussed and factored into your decision. Fixed bridges may take multiple appointments to complete and have significant associated costs.

 :: A removable partial denture. These appliances restore function and esthetics and can be inserted into the mouth and removed at will. Although many teeth are successfully replaced with removable prosthetic appliances, patients may initially find them cumbersome. Removable partial dentures may also temporarily alter phonetics as well as place unfavourable forces on the supporting teeth and soft tissues. There may be significant costs associated with this restoration.

 :: Not replacing the extracted tooth. This is a poor choice in most situations. Leaving a space after extraction can lead to long-term problems with teeth shifting and tipping, destabilization of the biting system, and esthetic changes in the profile of the face. Financially and psychologically, this could turn out to be the most costly choice over the lifetime of the patient.

    After considering and weighing all of the consequences of extraction and all of the alternatives for tooth replacement, in most situations it becomes obvious that well-performed root canal treatment with a protective restoration is the treatment of choice.

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