Root canal treatment Zurich (root filling)
Also called root canal filling or endodontic treatment. A root canal treatment is a dental procedure to treat an infection of a tooth's inner part called the pulp or the root canal system. The pulp is “the heart” of the tooth and consists of nerves, blood vessels and connective tissue that together fill out canals in the tooth which runs from the end of the root, up into the crown and back out through the root.
The pulp keeps the tooth alive. This pulp can become inflamed or infected due to deep caries or fillings. With a root canal treatment, the infected pulp is removed and replaced with a permanent rubber material called Gutta-percha. The Gutta-percha helps to keep the canals free from contamination or infection. This is a way for us to save the tooth instead of extracting it.
Causes for root canal treatment
Any of the below causes can result in an acute inflammation of the Pulp, creating swelling and pressure inside the tooth and causing pain.
- Deep tooth decay
- Deep fillings close to the nerve
- Repeated dental procedures – for example replacing a large filling
- Traumatic damage such as cracks, chips or fractures
- Traumatic occlusion – repeated excessive force on the tooth when biting together
Root canal treatment procedure in our dental practice in Zurich
A root filling procedure starts with opening up the tooth to enable good insight. We need to find all canals. The number of canals varies with each tooth and can be between 1-4 canals. When all canals are located, we measure their length to ensure the material fills up everything from top to root. The canals will be cleaned using files. Throughout the cleaning procedure we rinse with antiseptic liquid. Finally the canals are filled with gutta-percha. After this step the tooth might need a composite filling or a crown, depending on the loss of tooth substance.
In some cases, the procedure is divided in two sessions, cleaning and filling. When the tooth infection also includes the surrounding bone, both are the source for pain. In the first session the canal is cleaned and an antiseptic medium is applied followed by a healing period of at least one week with a temporary filling. When the patient is free from symptoms and the bone has started to heal, the treatment is finished with the root canal filling and a filling on top.