Illustration of a tooth after root canal treatment

Preserving teeth at risk

Because your own natural teeth are better than any denture, we try to preserve teeth at risk with a root canal treatment or an apicoectomy.

Endodontics deals with the inside of the tooth. If the dental pulp and root canals are inflamed, careful treatment determines whether the tooth can be preserved or has to be extracted.

How inflammation inside the tooth develops

When inflammatory processes at the roots or inside the teeth put them at risk, special treatment methods often allow affected teeth to be preserved as well.

Deep caries, cracks in the tooth, poorly fitting fillings or a broken tooth can lead to inflammation inside the tooth and later in the bone. If they remain untreated, they spread through the whole dental pulp and via the root tip into the surrounding jawbone.

Surgical microscope for the root canal treatment

Root canal treatment

In an endodontic treatment the dental nerve, damaged by caries, bacteria or inflammation, is treated. A surgical microscope makes it easier for us to see inside the tooth: even the finest canals can be visualised and prepared under direct view.

The aim is to remove bacteria and remaining nerve tissue from the canal, to clean and disinfect it and to fill and seal the cavity tightly. For a perfect seal, gutta-percha is warmed and compacted with ultrasound. During and after the treatment we take X-ray images in order to monitor and document the progress.

Apicoectomy

Even after a careful root canal treatment, inflammation can occur in the bone around the root tip. In that case an apicoectomy offers a further option for preserving the tooth: the root tip is removed and the inflamed tissue is taken away.

In order to find even the finest canals, we work with a microscope. If bone has been lost, the deficit can be filled with bone replacement material. After a successful apicoectomy the tooth remains stable and can be used for further prosthetic measures.

The most important facts at a glance

  • Endodontics treats the inside of the tooth, that is the pulp and the root canals.
  • Causes of an inflammation include deep caries, cracks, leaking fillings or a broken tooth.
  • During root canal treatment, bacteria and nerve tissue are removed, the canal is disinfected and sealed tightly.
  • A surgical microscope makes even the finest canals visible; X-rays check and document the course of treatment.
  • If an inflammation at the root tip persists, an apicoectomy can preserve the tooth.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happens during a root canal treatment?
The inflamed tooth nerve and the bacteria are removed from the root canals, the canals are cleaned and disinfected and then sealed tightly. X-rays check the result.
Does a root canal treatment hurt?
It is carried out under local anaesthetic and is therefore generally free of pain. The pain many people associate with it comes from the inflammation itself and usually subsides after the treatment.
What is an apicoectomy?
A small procedure in which the tip of the tooth root and the inflamed tissue are removed. It is an option when an inflammation in the bone persists after a root canal treatment.
Can I keep a root-treated tooth?
In many cases yes. After a successful treatment the tooth remains stable and can even serve as an abutment for further restorations. There is no guarantee, which is why we check the tooth regularly.
Why do you work with a microscope?
Because root canals are very fine and often branched. Under the microscope even narrow canals can be found and prepared cleanly under direct vision.