The root of the problem

In certain cases root canal treatment also known as endodontic treatment, is the only way possible to save the tooth. The tooth itself seriously damaged by deep caries, a big bone pocket or trauma can remain in place if only endodontic treatment is applied. The successful outcome means that the tooth will not be extracted. During endodontic treatment, the infected, damaged or decaying pulp of the root canal is removed. The pulp contains nerve tissue, as well as blood vessels going through the root canal.

What should the patient watch out for?

The pulp may be infected by deep caries or by a bone pocket when gum disease is in place. Go to the dentist after the first symptoms of darkening of the tooth, pain and swelling. Endodontic treatment is sometimes necessary when the tooth is broken. Don’t wait for intense pain. Call at once, if you have the above symptoms. Most probably we will be able to save your tooth.

Timely intervention of the dentist increases the chances for successful root canal treatment. Very often treated teeth require repeated therapy. Such teeth are usually broken and dark. Retreatment may result from unsatisfactory or inadequate earlier treatment entailing cysts and granulomas. Sometimes the patient may experience pain while chewing with this tooth, but lack of particular symptoms is also possible. That is why during regular checkups we appoint X-ray of all suspicious teeth. Many teeth may have damaged pulp without any visible signs. And very often only an X-ray can confirm the need of treatment or retreatment. This makes regular checkups and X-ray examinations crucial. Our practice shows that 80% of teeth which have undergone endodontic treatment are in need of retreatment. But this actually happens to teeth whose canals have been filled with ordinary paste but without condensation with Gutta Percha. 

How does endodontic treatment proceed?

Endodontic treatment provokes fears with most patients, although in most of the cases it is practically painless. In the rest of cases it takes place under a mild anesthetic providing remarkable comfort during treatment.

1. Ние правим малка дупчица в зъба до откриването на увредената пулпа и така осигуряваме достъп до кореновите канали. Използва се упойка, но тя невинаги е необходима. Бъдете сигурни обаче, че в повечето кабинети ще ви се постави упойка, дори и при много лека болка, за да имате пълен комфорт.
2. We make a small hole into the tooth to provide access to the damaged pulp and to root canals. Anesthetic is used, but it is not necessary for all cases. Rest assured that in our surgery we will give you anesthetic even if there is insignificant pain. 2. The dentist removes dead pulp and widens the canals with special instruments. After the pulp has been removed and canals widened, the canal is filled in. In our surgery we carry out root canal treatment using the latest innovation. This means that we fill in canals with a special material (Gutta Percha), extracted from the South American Isonandra Gutta tree. Condensed in the root canal, this material is biologically compatible to perfection: it won’t cause irritation or allergy. Besides, the canal is sealed in a way that rules out the development of bacteria that may cause granulomas and cysts. With filling canals in endodontic treatment is not complete. It is very important to build the tooth in a way that allows the reconstruction of its original anatomic shape and its proper functioning (effective chewing).
3. We can bleach the cured tooth or coat it in a crown . What option we choose depends on the extent of damage of tooth tissue. If the tooth is more than 70% destroyed bonding and a crown are recommended, so bleaching is not necessary.
4. Though only rarely, some people experience swelling and weak pain after the end of endodontic treatment. Call us at once. We will prescribe medicines or additional procedures.


Patient info

1. The length of root canal treatment depends on the number of canals (molars have 3-4 canals, while front teeth - 1) and on the extent of infection of both pulp and canal. Retreatment, especially if a granulomа is also in place, may continue for 1 to 2 months.
2. Sometimes endodontic treatment is followed by bleaching, bonding or crown application in a bid to restore the anatomic shape and the color of the tooth.
3. If the tooth has caused swelling, resulting from spreading infection, a drainage procedure is necessary before filling the canal in.
4. Conducting endodontic treatment does not mean that the tooth is insured against new caries or pocket.
5. The good news is that the latest technology used by us – cold and warm condensation with Gutta Percha – leaves only a minimal percentage of unsuccessful cases. Of course, treatment of the tooth with warm and cold condensation is 2 to 3 times more expensive than treatment with ordinary paste.