The Role of Dentistry in Cardiovascular Health and General Well-Being
Stephen T. Sinatra, Mark C. Houston in Nutritional and Integrative Strategies in Cardiovascular Medicine, 2015
To appreciate why root-canaled teeth can be so dangerous, it is important to understand the process. A root canal is the removal of the pulpal tissue from the hollow tube within the root(s) of the tooth. This pulp is composed of nerves, blood, and lymphatic tissue. Dentists are taught to medicate the canal of the tooth during the root canal procedure to minimize the amount of bacteria left behind. The canal is usually packed with a latex material called gutta-percha, which supposedly seals off the canal. The underlying assumption is that the body will be able to tolerate a tooth that now contains a minimal amount of bacteria. The criteria for success are that a tooth does not hurt and that it appears normal on an x-ray. If it were just the pulp that was infected, a better outcome could be expected. However, the tooth’s dentin, the tooth material that surrounds the pulp, is composed of literally millions of tiny tubules. These tubules exist to transport nutrients to the entire tooth. Although we think of tooth enamel as a hard and impenetrable material, it is actually made up of thousands of microscopic tubules. In fact, the dentin comprises so many tubules that if the tubules in your small lower front tooth were laid out end to end, it is estimated that they would form a line approximately 3 miles long.
The Dental Connection to Health
Aruna Bakhru in Nutrition and Integrative Medicine, 2018
Over 50,000,000 (50 million) teeth are “saved” in the United States alone every year by having a “root canal” done on them. This common name for this treatment is really a misnomer. The root canal in a tooth is the portion in the center of the tooth that goes down into the roots (usually two roots—sometimes three or even four). When a “root canal” is done by the dentist, he or she removes the nerve in the center of the tooth and the pulp which surrounds it. This nerve and pulp go all the way down from under the “crown” of the tooth to the end of the roots in the jaw. This is usually done because the decay has penetrated the center of the tooth and a “normal” filling is impossible because it would press on the nerve and be incredibly painful. The “root canal” process itself has a reputation for being quite painful.
Skin: Resilience
Philip Berry in Necessary Scars, 2021
There is acute nausea. There is mental turmoil. There is self-doubt. There is an unwillingness to do the same procedure again, ever. But there are more patients to be seen. You cannot just opt out. I pressed on. During clinics, on the way home, at unpredictable moments his face and voice intruded. I replayed my actions and my words over and over and again. Then, one of my back teeth fell apart and I had to see a dentist. Diagnosis: root canal. I needed it filled. My second canal. Shit. I made the appointment, lay back, and let the dentist do his thing. With my lips stretched by his latex covered hand, I gazed at the ceiling and thought, ‘You deserve this. You deserve this pain.’ It was a crazy, irrational response. I am no saint or selfless martyr, as I have already demonstrated. But I really did think this, gazing up the bright light. That is the trajectory my mind took. Payback time.
Effect of different laser-assisted irrigation activation techniques on apical debris extrusion
Published in Acta Odontologica Scandinavica, 2020
Ezgi Doğanay Yıldız, Buket Dinçer, Mehmet Eren Fidan
Root canal treatment aims disinfection of the root canals, to control infection in root canal space and to heal or prevent of pulpal and periradicular diseases [1]. To provide disinfection, mechanical preparation of the root canals and irrigation are crucial stages of root canal treatment. Irrigation of the root canals provides flushing away debris, cleaning the untouched areas of the root canals, removing the smear layer, and disinfection the canal space [2–4]. It is known that traditional needle irrigation does not sufficiently provide irrigation solutions to deliver and penetrate in the complex three-dimensional microstructure of the root canal system especially in the apical third of the canal [5]. Therefore, irrigation activation methods have been suggested to enhance the effect of irrigation solutions in the root canal system and distribution in root canal irregularities [6].
Is tooth conservation possible in odontogenic sinusitis? Prospective evaluation of affected teeth condition-based protocol
Published in Acta Oto-Laryngologica, 2023
Akiko Ito, Muneo Nakaya, Kazuhiro Tada, Junko Kumada, Wataru Kida, Yasuhiro Inayoshi
If the pulp of the affected tooth is necrotic even after ESS, it carries a risk of re-infection and relapse of sinusitis [17,18], and therefore root canal treatment is needed to remove the source of infection. On the other hand, an increasing number of patients with a periapical lesion in ODS receive endodontic treatment [18]. In our study, more than 80% of the patients had previous dental treatment. Many conditions do not respond to canalization owing to errors in the treatment procedure or the presence of a persistent extra- or intraradicular infection. Furthermore, root canal treatment for the molars is more challenging than for other teeth because of the complex anatomical structure of the canals, which increases the risk of improper treatment [19]. For these reasons, even in patients with a previous root canal treatment, periapical lesion may remain, or a new root canal lesion can develop and lead to maxillary sinusitis.
Elevating the use of sugar-free chewing gum in Germany: cost saving and caries prevention
Published in Acta Odontologica Scandinavica, 2018
Stefan Zimmer, Anna Spyra, Fabian Kreimendahl, Cornelia Blaich, Reinhard Rychlik
The effectiveness of the sfgF scenario was measured in terms of its ability to prevent caries and/or its consequences. Eight states were defined depending on the prevalence of caries, its severity and possible consequence (Figure 2). In the state ‘No caries’, no treatment is required. For the calculation of the DMFT, the tooth counts with DMFT = 0. All following states count with DMFT = 1. If caries occurs and no denture is needed, the tooth passes to one of the states ‘1-site filling’, ‘2-site filling’, ‘3-site filling’ or ‘4-site filling’. It was assumed that all lesions are treated in the same cycle. Depending on the risk, root canal treatment may also be necessary. If the tooth is too weak to be restored with a filling, a crown is needed. In this case, the tooth passes to the state ‘partial crown’ if there is enough dental substance. Transition into the state ‘full crown’ takes place if the substance loss reaches the gum. Before placing a crown, fillings must be removed and root canal treatment must be completed. If fillings and crowns are no longer adequate and the tooth has to be extracted, it passes to the state ‘B/P/I’ (Bridge/Prosthesis/Implant). The tooth remains in its respective state as long as there is no progression of the destruction. Transition to more severe caries-related states is possible, depending on the progression of the disease after every cycle. As lost natural tooth substance cannot be regained, transition to less severe conditions is not possible. All calculations were conducted with Microsoft Excel and TreeAge Pro 2012.16. Figure 2 shows the model and the transitional probabilities.
Related Knowledge Centers
- Dentin
- Sensory Nerve
- Connective Tissue
- Blood Vessel
- Soft Tissue
- Loose Connective Tissue
- Anatomic Space
- Tooth
- Pulp
- Nerve