Endodontic Treatments

Dental Bliss Clinic in Pretoria specialises in endodontic treatments — a critical aspect of our general dentistry services aimed at saving and preserving your natural teeth.

Endodontics focuses on treating the inner complexities of the tooth, specifically the pulp and nerves, ensuring the longevity and health of your teeth. Our approach is not just about relieving pain; it's about retaining your tooth's natural integrity and function.

What is endodontic treatment?

Endodontics involves dental procedures that address problems within the tooth's pulp — the soft inner tissue containing nerves, blood vessels, and connective tissue. These procedures become essential when the pulp inside a tooth becomes inflamed or infected, often resulting from deep decay, repeated dental interventions, fractures, or injuries.

Endodontic treatment focuses on preserving the tooth by eliminating the infected or compromised pulp, meticulously cleansing and disinfecting the interior, and subsequently filling and sealing the tooth's inner chambers.

What are the different types of endodontic treatments?

• Root Canal Therapy: Here, a root canal treatment becomes necessary when the tooth's pulp becomes infected or inflamed. This involves removing the affected pulp, thoroughly cleaning and disinfecting the tooth's interior, and filling and sealing it. This treatment alleviates pain and preserves the tooth from extraction.
• Endodontic Retreatment: Occasionally, a tooth that has previously had a root canal may fail to heal correctly or face reinfection. Endodontic retreatment involves reopening the tooth, eliminating prior filling materials, re-cleansing the canals, and then resealing the tooth to ensure its health and longevity.
• Apicoectomy: Also known as a root-end resection, this surgical procedure is performed when root canal therapy isn't sufficient. It involves making a slit in the gum tissue to expose the bone and remove the infected tissue at the end of the tooth root, along with the last few millimetres of the root tip.
• Pulpotomy: This treatment is typically used for children on a primary tooth with extensive decay or infection. It involves removing the diseased pulp within the crown portion of the tooth, leaving the root's pulp intact.

Why consider endodontic treatment?

Endodontic treatment is crucial for saving a tooth that would otherwise need to be extracted. Preserving your natural tooth offers numerous benefits, such as efficient chewing, normal biting force and sensation, maintaining a natural appearance, and safeguarding other teeth from excessive wear and strain.

It is a way to maintain your oral health and overall wellbeing, as losing a tooth can lead to other dental and health issues.

What do the different treatments involve?

• Root Canal Therapy: This procedure usually requires one or more visits. After numbing the area, Dr Msimanga will create an opening in the tooth's crown to access the pulp chamber. The infected pulp is removed using specialised instruments, and the chamber is thoroughly cleaned and shaped. It is then filled with a biocompatible material and sealed. A crown may be placed for extra protection.
• Endodontic Retreatment: This involves the careful removal of the previous filling materials, a thorough cleaning of the canal, and then resealing the tooth, much like the original root canal process.
• Apicoectomy: This surgical approach is a more complex procedure where the tip of the root and the infected tissue are removed, and a small filling is placed to seal the root end.
• Pulpotomy: A relatively simple procedure, it involves removing the diseased pulp, disinfecting the area, and then placing a therapeutic material to maintain the health of the remaining pulp tissue.

We are dedicated to preserving your natural teeth and ensuring your oral health is at its best. Embrace the care that your teeth deserve and experience the difference at Dental Bliss Clinic.