What happens when the pulp is infected?

Dental pulp is a soft tissue that contains blood vessels, blood cells and connective tissues. The pulp will die when it is damaged and infected and cannot heal itself. Dead pulp is most often caused by deep dentin decay or a broken tooth. In both cases the microbe reaches the pulp and causes infection. If this infection is untreated inflammatory abscesses form at the root tips and jawbone. These abscesses can fester and destroy the bone around the tooth.

How can I understand I need root canal treatment?

Pain in the teeth, long-lasting sensitivity to hot or cold, pain when touched or during chewing, change in tooth color, or swelling and abscess formation means you might need root canal treatment.

Will there be pain after canal treatment?

Since the pulp is removed from the canal cold-hot stimulants won’t trigger pain. However, in the first few days following the treatment, especially in inflamed teeth, you might have mild pain during chewing.

How can root canal treatment save teeth? 

After the inflammatory or infected tooth pulp is removed, canals in the root are cleaned and expanded. The dentist disinfects the area to be treated and fills the empty canals with a leak-proof seal. After the canal treatment is finished, the normal filling, inlay-onlay filling or crowns are done.

Is root canal treatment a painful procedure?

Thanks to today's technology, root canal treatment is a painless process with local anesthetic solutions.

Can teeth with large abscess or lesions at the root tip heal?

After proper endodontic treatment, teeth with abscess or lesions may also heal.

What is the duration of root canal treatment?

Nowadays canal treatment can be completed in one session. The average duration of the session is 40 - 60 minutes. If the tooth has chronic inflammation (periapical lesions), fistula pathway, or abscess pulp tissue (pulp necrosis) the treatment is completed in 2 sessions.

Can root canal treatment be repeated? What is the success rate of this process?

Canal treatment is a process that can be repeated. The success of treatment depends on the skills, knowledge and equipment of the endodontist. The process, called retreatment, is a more complex process than the first time. Before retreatment, the possibilities are explained in detail. Complications that might have occurred during the first time may not allow the treatment to be renewed.