The word ‘Endodontic’ is derived from two branches: “Endo” means inside and “odont” means tooth. Endodontic procedures include the treatment of inner tissues (pulp or nerves) of the teeth.
Endodontic procedure is also known as Root Canal Treatment. A tooth that has received the root canal treatment can still be decayed, if proper oral care is not maintained. Endodontic failure can be due to following factors:
- Inadequate filling of canal or untreated canals
- Presence or re-entry of bacteria in root canals
- Cracked or fractured tooth
- Cavities or infection and inflammation of the gums
- Incomplete removal of bacteria
To treat this, there are some treatments in dentistry:
- Retreatment: In retreatment process, we remove all previous material then we thoroughly clean the canals and re-apply antibacterial dressing. Finally, we refill the root canal with a special sealing material.
- Apicoectomy: When there is a blockage around the tooth that prevents access to treat root canal then Apicoectomy procedure needs to be performed. A small opening is created in the gum to reach to the infected root tip. The infection is removed and seals the area to prevent further infection.
- Extraction: This is used as a last option when all other treatments have failed. In this, the tooth is extracted and replaced with dental implant.
Regenerative endodontic is the restoration of biological function of damaged tissues that are similar to original tissues.
Reparative endodontic is replacement of damaged tissues by original tissues that have lost their biological function.
Surgical endodontic means to save a tooth that cannot be saved by non-surgical root canal treatment. It removes calcium deposits in root canals or treat damaged root surfaces.