Root Canal Treatment and Costs

If bacteria get into the tooth pulp, also known as the pulp, they can cause inflammation of the roots. Root canal treatment is necessary to save the tooth. 

The cause of an inflammation of the nerve in the root canal is usually deep Caries. But bacteria can also get inside the tooth if teeth have broken off because of an accident. In rare cases, a filling, which is close to the nerve, can cause similar inflammatory reactions in the nerve.  
If the inflammation is left untreated, the bacteria can spread through the tip of the root into the surrounding tissue. The classic, painful "thick cheek" with an accumulation of pus can appear as a symptom. A painless death of the tooth nerve is also possible. The local chronic inflammation can put stress on the whole body. An X-ray examination is necessary for diagnosis. 

(Source - Prodente.de) 

No. It will even relieve you of the toothache. The tooth is treated under local anesthesia so that you do not experience any pain during the treatment. Most patients feel relieved and liberated after the root canal treatment. 

In very rare cases, complications can arise due to the complex anatomical shape of the root canal. There are parts of the root canal that could not be disinfected during endodontic treatment (root canal treatment). The result is a renewed inflammation of the root, which can lead to pain and swelling (e.g. abscess). 

In such cases, there are 3 options:  
1. Tooth extraction  
2. Root tip resection (see below)  
3. Revision treatment (see below). 

In preparation for the treatment, the dentist can put a small elastic cloth around the tooth. This so-called rubber dam keeps the tooth free of saliva and bacteria during the root canal treatment and makes treatment easier. At the beginning of the treatment, the dentist usually opens the tooth under local anesthesia. He removes the infected tissue with very thin instruments. In addition, the dentist rinses the root canal with an antibacterial solution. At the same time, he uses X-rays to check the success of the treatment. Electronic root canal length determinations are helpful in treatment. The treatment may take several sessions. In the meantime, the dentist provides the tooth with an anti-inflammatory or antibacterial insert and temporarily closes the tooth. It is extremely important to remove as much bacteria as possible from the canal. Then the root canal is filled with a bacteria-proof filling - mostly made of gutta-percha, a rubber-like mass. 

Source - Prodente.de 

The aim of a root canal treatment is to disinfect and clean the root canals. The more curvatures and undermining shapes the root canals have, the greater becomes the challenge. With the help of the laser, we are also able to clean complex roots. 

To clean the entire root canal as much as possible, an accurate measurement of the root canal is required. The electrical length measurement in combination with the X-ray is currently the best way to determine the length of the root canal. It highly depends on the length! 

With a root tip resection, the dentist cuts off about two to three millimeters from the root tip. The bone above the affected root tip is removed in order to access the inflamed tissue. The dentist then prepares and fills the root canal. The operation is usually carried out on an outpatient basis under local anesthesia. 

As part of a revision treatment, the existing root filling is revised, and the root canals are reprocessed, disinfected, and filled. The goal of a revision treatment is, as with a root canal treatment, to disinfect and clean the root canal. 

Harmless side effects of any root canal treatment can be bite sensitivity or moderate pain. Occasionally, antibiotics are useful to fight infection. The long-term prognosis of a root canal treatment is impaired if it is not possible to completely prepare particularly narrow or curved canals or canal sections. Other possible complications are perforations - that is, the instruments create an additional exit from the root canal system - or breakage of the hair-thin instruments. If the tooth is still not resilient for a long time after the end of the treatment or if inflammation around the root is visible on the X-ray, further treatment is necessary. The dentist can consult an endodontic expert, who specializes in the treatment of the diseased tooth interior, for a precise clarification.  
 
<Source - Prodente.de> 

Depending on the cause of the failed treatment, further processing may be necessary to clean and fill even the last remnants of the microfine root canals. Another possible treatment step to save the tooth is the surgical removal of the root tip or, in the case of a multi-rooted tooth, the complete removal of a root. 
 
<Source - Prodente.de> 

The basic rule is: the greater the loss of substance, the more fragile the tooth. As a rule, root-treated teeth are at risk of fracture. In exceptional cases, a post-build-up or a single-surface filling is sufficient for long-term success. A ceramic crown could protect the tooth in the long term and improve its appearance.

In the past, teeth that had been treated with root canals often turned dark due to the use of coloring drugs or fillings. Today such substances are no longer used. Nevertheless, the color of a tooth that has undergone root canal treatment can later turn gray, for example. However, the discoloration can only occur in natural teeth; this risk does not exist with artificial crowns. By whitening deposits in the tooth (bleaching), the discoloration can often be reversed. Sustainable color corrections are also possible with Veneers or Veneered Crowns.  
 
<Source - Prodente.de>