ENDODONTICS

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ENDODONTIC TREATMENTS

The endodontium is the cavity inside the tooth, consisting of the dental pulp and the root canal. Endodontics is a branch of dentistry that deals with the diagnosis and therapeutic treatments of issues related to the endodontium.

The Motta Jones, Rossi, and Associates dental clinic, located in Milan in the Cadorna-Magenta area, performs endodontic treatments aimed at treating teeth damaged by cavities or trauma. Endodontics involves minimally invasive outpatient dental procedures.

Endodontic treatment becomes necessary in clinical situations where the dental pulp (the soft inner tissue) is inflamed.

The causes of a dental pulp infection (also known as the tooth nerve), which require endodontic intervention, are often due to:

A deep and advanced-stage dental cavity;
The outcome of an inadequate dental treatment;
Various types of trauma that cause tooth fractures.

DAMAGED DENTAL PULP

The dental pulp is a soft tissue composed of arteries, veins, nerve endings, and connective cells.

The dental pulp has two different functions depending on the patient’s age:

In a developing patient, the dental pulp is responsible for forming the calcified supporting structure of the tooth (known as dentin). Over time, it gradually thins.
In an adult patient, the dental pulp is thinner and serves less primary functions, such as perception and sensitivity to cold, as well as dentin hydration.

An untreated dental cavity causes the decalcification and progressive destruction of the tooth’s hard tissues. The action of microorganisms present in bacterial plaque enlarges the cavity created by the decay until the infection reaches the pulp, leading to necrosis and eventual tooth loss.

The consequences are severe, as the damaged dental pulp causes acute, painful, and often chronic effects on the surrounding tissues.

In this clinical situation, the dentists collaborating with the Motta, Jones, Rossi, and Associates dental clinic recommend endodontic treatment.

Endodontic treatment (also known as root canal therapy) is a procedure that allows us to preserve the damaged tooth, avoiding extraction and opting for the devitalization process instead.

ENDODONTIC DISORDERS

Symptoms of endodontic disorders

One of the most significant symptoms of advanced tooth decay, which can damage the dental pulp, is excessive sensitivity to cold or heat. In reality, this symptom is not exclusive to decay-related damage but can also be associated with other conditions, such as gum recession caused by periodontal disease, bruxism, or trauma from aggressive brushing.

In general, some common symptoms of endodontic disorders include:

Acute localized pain, which may also extend to the areas surrounding the affected tooth;
Prolonged sensitivity of the damaged tooth to hot or cold stimuli;
Pain during chewing or when the tooth is touched and stimulated;
Tooth discoloration;
Gum swelling.

When excessive tooth sensitivity is accompanied by localized pain that persists even after the stimulus is removed, it is often a sign of advanced-stage tooth decay.

If left untreated in a timely and effective manner, this infection can lead to pulpitis, a progressive, acute, and painful inflammation of the dental pulp, ultimately resulting in its necrosis.

Diagnosis of endodontic disorder

Tooth decay can develop suddenly, sometimes without any early symptoms, or with such mild symptoms that the issue is often overlooked. This occurs in the initial stage of the disorder. We have frequently encountered patients with signs of complete tooth destruction who had experienced no pain or noticeable symptoms.

Protecting dental health and diagnosing cavities before they cause irreversible damage is only possible through regular dental check-ups.

We recommend that patients who visit the Motta Jones, Rossi, and Associates dental clinic undergo periodic check-ups once or twice a year, even in the absence of specific symptoms or discomfort. This allows for the early detection of cavities, even in their initial stages.

By diagnosing issues early, we can promptly intervene with effective treatment, minimizing damage as much as possible.

TREATMENTS AND CARE

Endodontic treatment

In the advanced stages of the disorder, our dentists resort to endodontic therapy, which is no longer a conservative treatment involving the removal of the decayed portion of the tooth or a simple filling but requires a root canal procedure.

Endodontic treatment involves the removal of the inflamed and infected dental pulp, replacing it with a permanent filling made of gutta-percha (a plant-derived macromolecule) and root canal cement.

At the Motta Jones, Rossi, and Associates dental clinic, we perform appropriate endodontic treatments after thoroughly cleaning and shaping the root canals.

The therapeutic goal of endodontics is to allow the damaged tooth to regain its full functionality, just like a healthy tooth, by eliminating the infection.

Years of experience in the dental field allow us to state that the success rate of endodontic treatment is very high when performed under isolation with a rubber dam.

The operational phases of the endodontic procedure

For endodontic procedures, the Motta Jones, Rossi, and Associates dental clinic follows these operational phases:

Administration of local anesthesia to eliminate pain during the procedure.
Removal of dental decay.
Isolation of the operating field using a rubber dam, a latex sheet that isolates the treated tooth to ensure the success of the endodontic procedure, while also preventing abrasions, gum injuries, and accidental ingestion of endodontic instruments.
Opening of the pulp chamber.
Removal of the infected dental pulp.
Use of sodium hypochlorite as an endocanal irrigant, a powerful disinfectant used to clean and sterilize the endodontic space.
Cleaning and shaping of the root canals using sodium hypochlorite and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA).
Root canal filling with antibacterial bio-materials, gutta-percha, and root canal cement.
Reconstruction of the tooth crown in cases of severe damage.
Radiographic examination of the treated tooth at the end of the procedure.

Post-procedure care

After undergoing endodontic treatment, some patients may experience mild to moderate discomfort in the treated area, which can be easily managed with a common analgesic.

The endodontic specialists at the Motta Jones, Rossi, and Associates dental clinic recommend a few precautions to patients who have undergone an endodontic procedure to prevent relapses and improve recovery time:

Avoid chewing with the treated tooth until it is fully restored.
Maintain proper daily oral hygiene to prevent further infections, both in the treated tooth and in healthy teeth.

About us

About Us

The Motta Jones Rossi & Associates Dental Clinic in Milan specializes in adult dentistry, pediatric dentistry, oral surgery, implantology, invisible orthodontics (e.g. Invisalign – invisible and transparent braces), treatment of periodontal diseases, wisdom teeth care, prevention and dental hygiene, 3D reconstructive surgery, and cosmetic dentistry. A dental center that supports the patient throughout their journey, providing therapeutic consultation, solutions for dental problems, and assistance.