What is a root canal?
A root canal is a dental treatment that is carried out when a cavity grows and reaches the tooth’s nerve, causing infection and the discomfort and pain associated with it. This is why it is so important to maintain proper dental hygiene at home, and to have regular check- ups at the dental clinic.
However, when we don’t do this and a cavity grows out of control, or if a leak occurs under a filling, it often reaches the nerve, making a root canal necessary. In colloquial terms, this is known as 'killing the nerve'.
What we usually find at our dental clinic in Murcia is that a patient tells us that a particular tooth has started to hurt, or that a lump or phlegmon (swelling) has appeared on the gum. When an X-ray is taken and we find a very deep, old filling or a cavity that has already invaded the nerve, and because we always recommend preserving the tooth where possible, we perform a root canal.
HOW DO THEY WORK?
A root canal is a procedure that consists of 'emptying' the tooth’s nerve, disinfecting all its internal canals and then sealing them with state-of-the-art plastic material.
At Vélez y Lozano we use a Carl Zeiss clinical microscope for this process. This make details and microscopic structures visible as, despite what patients often believe, dentists cannot see inside the tooth with the naked eye.
In addition, we complement this technology with the use of a 3D X-ray system called CBCT, which is normally only available in hospitals and is rarely seen at dental clinics. This extraordinary definition.
HOW DOES IT WORK?
A root canal consists of 'emptying' the nerve of the tooth, disinfecting all its internal canals and then sealing them with state-of-the-art plastic material. Because dentists cannot see the inside of the tooth with the naked eye, at Vélez y Lozano we use a Carl Zeiss clinical microscope to view microscopic details and structures. In addition, we complement this technology with the use of a 3D X-ray system called CBCT, which is normally available in hospitals but is rarely seen at dental clinics. This extraordinary definition allows us to get a three dimensional understanding of the tooth and to guarantee the most precise diagnosis, which was not possible with conventional two- dimensional X-rays. This allows us to solve problems such as dental fissures that would otherwise not be visible, achieving more than a 90% success rate in our treatments. It is common for teeth that have undergone root canal treatment to present pain or infection. This is because it is a treatment that requires the intervention of a specialist, and if possible assisted by a clinical microscopist, in order to properly reach the roots and fully disinfect them. Re-doing a root canal (also known as endodontic re-treatment) is much more complicated than a primary root canal, but thanks to our specialists and the technology we use, we are able to resolve even highly complex cases.
Another key factor in our success with this type of tooth is that we know that they require special protection, as they are at greater risk of fracture. Thanks to our CEREC MC XL in- clinic milling system, we can provide a ceramic solution in a single appointment, avoiding the need for ‘manual’ fillings that are at risk of leaking over time and can lead to endodontic failure.
HOW IT IMPROVES THE LIFESPAN OF YOUR TEETH
- Prevents the need to extract a natural tooth.
- Eliminates dental infections.
- Prevents displacement of neighbouring teeth when the tooth is lost.
- Repairs damaged parts of the tooth.