Endodontics & Devitalization

Endodontics & Devitalization

Endodontics is the treatment of the inside of the tooth (devitalization). The dentist must perform endodontics in order to clean and disinfect the internal part of the tooth and then close it. When the cavity reaches the pulp (the nerve), the patient begins to feel cold, hot or chewing pain (see diagram on the left). When the tooth is left untreated, the decay infects the bone, and the patient may feel radiating pain or may even swell (see diagram on right).

Endodontic treatment consists of:

• Eliminate what remains of the infected or potentially infected nerve inside the tooth (dental pulp)

• Thoroughly clean the inside of this tooth, by a mechanical action: scraping the inner surface of the root using manual or motor-mounted endodontic files. This cleaning is facilitated by disinfectants

• Achieve root closure.

For this, the dentist generally performs a local anesthesia, so that the gesture is not painful. An adequate opening is made on the tooth, to access the pulp (nerve).

After the roots have closed, the tooth will have to be reconstructed, either with a composite (materials that have the color of the tooth) if this tooth is not too dilapidated, or with a prosthetic reconstruction (crown or onlay) if it is too dilapidated, in order to protect the tooth from a probable fracture, and to ensure the function of the tooth.

Technologies: mechanized endodontics

Endodontic treatment can be performed by modern nickel titanium instruments. They are very flexible and are activated by an electric motor. A detector makes it possible to locate the end of the root without traumatizing the bone. This is called mechanized endodontics. This technology makes it possible to perform endodontic treatment (devitalization) more quickly and precisely, and very often in a single appointment.