Endodontics is the branch of dentistry that deals with the diagnosis and treatment of dental pulp infections in both adults and children. Canal treatment or pulpectomy is a sequence of procedures that aims to eliminate infections of the dental pulp and apical periodontium, and its purpose is to save the affected tooth from extraction. 

• What is dental pulp? A tooth consists of three hard layers that protect the interior: in the coronary area is enamel and dentin and at the root is cement and dentin. The soft inside of the tooth is called the dental pulp and is made up of soft tissues, namely nerves and blood vessels. They are located in the root canals, which have multiple branches, similar in structure to the roots of trees.
  

• When is canal / pulpectomy treatment needed?

Endodontic treatment is caused by deep caries or trauma to the mouth (if the root or apex of the tooth has been affected). Trauma is also considered too aggressive an orthodontic treatment. After caries perforates the enamel layer, the problem evolves rapidly and reaches the dentin, then the pulp chamber where inflammation occurs and then infection or necrosis of the dental pulp.

What are the advantages of using a microscope in endodontics?

1. Higher accuracy and accuracy, shorter one-day treatment

A dental microscope not only magnifies the image up to 20x, but also illuminates the passages and branches inside the tooth - a whole system of channels - allowing the doctor to observe and treat structures that are not visible to the naked eye. At the same time, the doctor can detect root fractures and perforations, seal them, thus preventing infiltration with bacteria, spreading the infection and then extracting the tooth.

We know that time is an important factor in everyone's life and we strive to reduce the time patients spend in our clinic and in the dental chair. Microscope-assisted endodontic treatments have the enormous advantage that they can be completed in a single session, compared to traditional endodontic treatments, which require 2 or more visits to the dentist.

2. High success rate of treatment, low risk of complications

Thanks to the dental microscope and 3D radiographs, canal treatments are more successful than ever, with fewer problems associated with the procedure. The microscope gives the dentist the ability to properly locate and remove the nerve from the tooth, eliminating the need to blindly dig to locate it, risking damage to the tooth. This tool has proven so vital during the procedures that all endodontic doctors are now trained to use it.

• At the Platinum Dental Center clinic, the success rate of an endodontic treatment is 98%, ie out of 100 patients treated endodontically, only 2 return to the clinic in the first year after the intervention, needing further treatments. In the case of most patients, who practice good oral hygiene, endodontically treated teeth are kept on the arch for 5-10 years or even longer.

3. Successful endodontic retreatments

Radiological images of an unfilled canal — which was not found in a curved canal system, or of broken canal instruments — are commonly seen in patients who come to us with dental pain. Such conditions often lead to inflammatory complications of the periosteum and require urgent and precise intervention. Often, by repeated canal treatment, with proper cleaning, disinfection and sealing, these severely damaged teeth can be saved from extraction.

Although, in these cases, the procedure is more complicated and the success rate of an endodontic retreatment is lower - 80% - 88%, according to the literature - our specialists in endodontics have the necessary training and experience to perform this treatment in the highest safety. Given these, we recommend and prefer endodontic retreatment to extraction of the affected tooth.  

4. Increased comfort at the dentist while working

When you are in the dentist's chair, the last thing you worry about is the comfort of the dentist - we know very well, we only become patients sometimes. However, it is important for a dentist to feel comfortable while working so that he or she can concentrate and perform the best treatment. The dental microscope increases the ergonomics of the dental office and allows the doctor to adopt a correct and stable posture of the spine during work. Thus, the dentist no longer has to lean on the patient in order to have a good visibility, with a contorted spine and stretched shoulders, which can lead to pain and health problems and can cause him to hurry. Using a microscope, you can be sure that your dentist will give you the time you need. At the same time, he can work comfortably for longer periods of time, which means that he can perform the necessary treatments in fewer sessions. We can all appreciate that.

Currently, microscope-assisted endodontic treatment is considered to be "the gold standard”in the practice of endodontics. However, the use of a 3D radiology device (CBCT) and a high quality dental microscope is absolutely necessary to obtain positive results and a high success rate of the procedures. The Platinum Dental Center Clinic is equipped with state-of-the-art microscopes, Seiler brand, with lenses produced by world leader Carl Zeiss, a well-known brand with almost 125 years of history. You can find more information about dental x-rays here.

However, the dental microscope is used for many dental procedures in different areas: prosthetics, dentistry or caries treatment, periodontics, surgery, obtaining results of superior quality and aesthetics.