Basically there are three main treatments in endodontics: endodontics or root canal treatment, endodontic retreatment and periapical surgery or apicoectomy.

What is endodontics?

Endodontics is a treatment that eliminates the content of the root canals. After removing it, the space is cleaned and disinfected in order to fill them with an inert and sterile material, seeking to heal the tissue and eliminate the symptoms.

There are three types of treatments: root canal treatment (when the tooth has not received any previous treatment), endodontic retreatment (when the tooth has already been treated but symptoms persist) and periapical surgery (when a lesion occurs at the apex of the root). But let’s take a closer look at these types of treatments:

1. Root Canal treatment

   It consists in eliminating the content of the root canals (pulp tissue, in cases of inflammation, or bacteria, in cases of necrosis or infection). Then proceed to perform the cleaning and disinfection of that space and finally the filling of the canals with an inert and sterile material called gutta-percha. This is done to create an environment that allows the healing of the supporting tissues of the tooth and it can be kept away from symptoms.

2. Endodontic retreatment

   Endodontic retreatment is performed when the symptoms persist after a first endodontics (or if there are injuries or infections). Through this procedure, the canal is cleaned and prepared to be filled and sealed again. Only in some cases, medicines are applied to eliminate the bacteria. With this treatment, we seek to correct the unresolved problem in the first endodontics allowing healing. However, it is also possible that the lesion is not improved, and surgery is necessary. There are also situations where it is advisable to improve the condition of the endodontics with a retreatment of the canals. Cases where the internal state of the tooth or the result of the first procedure is doubted.

3. Periapical surgery or apicoectomy

   Periapical surgery is performed when there is injury to the roots or symptoms persist; It is also carried out when the tooth has some condition that prevents performing another endodontic procedure. This surgery makes the approach directly to the lesion through the bone. During the procedure, the lesion is removed and a small part of the tip of the root is extracted, making a preparation of the canals with ultrasonic tips to obtain a more conservative result and avoid perforations. Finally, the cavity is filled with a special material, sealing the canals and avoiding leaks of bacteria inside the tooth. It should be added that this procedure should ideally be performed with microscope aids to achieve better results.

We hope that this article is useful to understand this specialty a little more. If you have questions or want to request an appointment, then do not hesitate to contact us.