Can I have root canal treatment while there is swelling?

The main issues to be addressed here are the location of the swelling (intraoral-extraoral), its size, consistency, drainability and systemic effects on the patient. The cause of the swelling is the non-viable nerve tissue in the tooth and all the non-viable tissues must be removed for a complete treatment. If the swelling due to infection is visible from outside the mouth and/or is hard and/or has affected the systemic condition of the patient, starting the patient on the appropriate antibiotic will be the right start of treatment.

What is retreatment/re-root canal treatment?

Retreatment/re-root canal treatment is a treatment that can be applied to teeth that have previously had root canal treatment but the root apex could not be reached, have an infection at the root apex or have an ongoing infection. The previous root canal filling is removed and the aim is to reach the root apex and/or the infected area with the necessary materials.

Is retreatment a successful type of treatment?

The real secret of success in root canal treatment is reaching the root apex with appropriate materials. The real success in retreatment is based on the same principle, but due to the treatment methods applied in the previous treatment and the materials used, reaching the root apex may not be fully achieved in every case. Despite all these negativities, the success rate of retreatment treatment is around 70-80% in the literature.

Root Canal Treatment (Endodontics)

What is Root Canal Treatment/Why is it Important?

As a result of tooth decay coming into contact with the living tissue of the tooth, an inflammation-infection occurs in the area and if this condition progresses, it can lead to loss of vitality in the teeth. Root canal treatment is the process of removing the damaged or dead nerve tissue in such teeth, disinfecting the environment with appropriate solutions and filling it with biocompatible materials.

Why is root canal treatment important?

A successful root canal treatment performed under appropriate conditions with the right indication, together with the appropriate care of the patient, will ensure that the relevant tooth remains in the mouth for many years and will assist in the prosthetic procedures to be performed.

Is root canal treatment a painful procedure?

Since root canal treatment is a procedure performed under local anesthesia, patients do not feel any pain during the procedure. After the treatment is completed, the pain is usually at a level that can be controlled with simple painkillers.

Should I use antibiotics for root canal treatment?

The decision to use antibiotics in dentistry is made after a clinical examination of the patient and is usually related to the patient's systemic condition (for example, whether the patient has a fever or any disease that weakens the immune system, etc.). Antibiotics are not required for most cases where root canal treatment will be performed.

Why is root-end surgery/apical resection performed? Which teeth are treated with it?

In the root canal system, there may be numerous side canals in the apical 1/3 of the root (the tip of the root), and filling these side canals may not be possible in every treatment. For this reason, despite a successful root canal treatment, teeth may be symptomatic. The root tips of these symptomatic teeth, which have successful root canal treatment radiographically, have healthy surrounding bone tissue except for the apical 1/3, and are in an accessible area, are surgically cut and removed, and the exposed root tips are closed with appropriate biomaterials.