Endodontic treatments have always been practiced at Previdente.

This page was created to help patients become aware of the importance and grave consequences of pathologies that attack tooth pulp (nerve) and how they affect a person’s general health.

It also seeks to show the attention and care that Previdente patients receive. We would like to point out that we are currently implementing a Quality Management System in view of obtaining Quality certification (ISO 9001).

What is endodontic treatment (devitalizations) and when should it be applied?

Treatment consists of removing the tooth pulp (living or dead structure that contains, among other elements, nerves and blood vessels).

When should it be employed?

It should be employed whenever there is an infection in the root and bone lesion visible in the X-ray. The bone inflammation may remain for several years without causing pain and harming health because our body’s defence mechanism is able to neutralise the toxins released by the bacteria. However, when our body’s resistance is weakened, these micro-organisms can cause acute inflammation in the bone, accompanied by pain and oedema (swelling) and penetration of the bacteria into the bloodstream (bacteraemia).

 

What type of pre- and post-treatment care should be taken?
Pre-treatment	Post-treatment
diabetics – if the diabetic condition is controlled or compensated, the treatment can be performed without any problem; however, care should be taken when medicating with anti-inflammatory drugs, avoiding use of cortisone. patients with heart trouble that have undergone surgery or who have congenital defects, such as a prolapsed mitral valve, require use of prophylactic antibioticotherapy because as mentioned above, when the infected canal is instrumented, bacteraemia occurs, which can lead to other pathologies.	estore the tooth as quickly as possible to avoid fracturing the crown and recontamination of the canal with salivary micro-organisms; conduct clinical-radiographic control after 6 months.

 

How many sessions are required to perform a root canal?

Treatment can be performed during a single session, particularly if the tooth is not infected (if there are no bacteria in the canal). The root canal may have to be performed over multiple sessions if there is pus, persistent haemorrhaging, tumefaction, or in the event of retreatment, or other special cases.

Is treatment very painful?

With the use of anaesthetic, this treatment is usually painless and in cases of mortified pulp, anaesthesia is unnecessary.

However, during the first 24 hours you may have a painful sensation due to the anaesthetic and the handling of the tooth, which can be resolved by taking analgesics. If an infection already exists, systematic treatment may be required (antibiotics, anti-inflammatory drugs).

Will the tooth hurt again?

Root canals have a high success rate, but in some cases you may feel pain in the tooth again for various reasons: teeth with extremely curved roots (complicated anatomy); failure of previous treatment, calcified canals; breakage or absence of restoration of the tooth with a treated canal; deep cavity with subsequent recontamination of the canal, etc.