Scandinavian-style precision root canal treatment
What is precision root canal treatment using a microscope?
Scandinavian precision root canal treatment Table of contents
What is a Microscope?
Benefits of using a microscope
Root canal treatment using rubber dam
Nordic root canal treatment: fighting bacteria thoroughly
Flow of our Nordic-style precision root canal treatment
Treatment period and frequency
cost
Risks and Side Effects
Aiming for treatment with as little recurrence as possible
What is a microscope?
A microscope is a medical device used in surgery that can magnify the area to be treated by up to 20 times. By making visible areas that could not be seen with the naked eye, it has become possible to achieve more precise treatment than was previously possible with blind treatment.
Patients cannot see what treatment is being performed during the procedure, but using a microscope we can take photos and videos during the procedure and show them to you after treatment.
When grinding down teeth, it is possible to grind down only the necessary areas, so we will proceed with treatment by grinding down only the minimum amount of teeth necessary while leaving as much healthy tooth as possible.
The gaps between the teeth and gums can also be clearly seen using a microscope, allowing us to check for bleeding points, plaque, and tartar buildup.
Benefits of using a microscope
Root canal treatment requires very delicate work because it is a treatment method that approaches the inside of the tooth. The diameter of the root canal inside the tooth is less than 1 mm, so it is very difficult to find with the naked eye.
If you accidentally grind down too much of the tooth, there is a risk of creating a hole in the tooth, which is called a perforation. The inside of the mouth is dark, and it is difficult to fully check the surgical field with just a mirror and the naked eye.
The microscope uses LED lights to brightly illuminate the surgical field, creating the ideal environment for root canal treatment.
◆ Root canal treatment using rubber dam
A rubber dam is a rubber sheet that is attached to the treatment area and is necessary to create a sterile treatment environment to prevent saliva from entering the treatment area. It is used to expose only the teeth to be treated and isolate the oral cavity, where many bacteria exist, from the surgical field.
There are many bacteria in the oral cavity, so unless the area where root canal treatment is performed is kept clean and the environment is as sterile as possible before treatment begins, the treatment will not be close to being successful.
If root canal treatment is performed without using a rubber dam, saliva will quickly get in even if the inside of the root canal is washed and cleaned multiple times.
Retreatment of root canal treatment is something we want to avoid. It is costly and time-consuming, and places a heavy burden on the patient. In order to avoid retreatment, we believe that one treatment option is to choose precision root canal treatment using a rubber dam, which reduces the risk of recurrence.
◆Nordic root canal treatment that thoroughly fights bacteria
What is important in root canal treatment is how to fight the bacteria that are causing problems in the dental pulp (nerve).
Bacteria can invade the pulp, the internal structure of the tooth, and cause inflammation due to bacterial proliferation, making root canal treatment necessary.
In other words, a large amount of bacteria is breeding in the pulp cavity (the nerve chamber) where the tooth pulp is located.
In normal root canal treatment, the pulp is removed, the root canal is shaped, cleaned with a medicinal solution, and then medicated with a calcium hydroxide preparation or similar.
Once symptoms such as pain and discomfort have subsided, the basic step in root canal treatment is to proceed to root canal filling at the dentist's discretion.
However, bacteria in the root canal cannot be seen with the naked eye, nor even with a microscope. Unfortunately, even if the canal looks clean, there may still be a lot of bacteria remaining in the canal.
If these surviving bacteria are still able to grow after root canal treatment, they can cause problems in the future that may require further root canal treatment.
In our clinic, in order to reduce future recurrence as much as possible, we perform a bacterial test to check whether the bacteria in the root canal is as small as possible before root canal filling. By taking a sample from inside the root canal and culturing it, we can visualize bacteria that were invisible to the naked eye.
Once we have confirmed that the inside of the root canal is sterile, we proceed to filling the root canal.
This is how root canal treatment in Sweden and other Nordic countries tries to fight bacteria from a biological perspective and reduce the risk of recurrence as much as possible. There are various approaches and concepts to root canal treatment, including the American style, but at our clinic we propose treatment that is tailored to the condition of the tooth based on the concept of Nordic root canal treatment.
Flow of precision root canal treatment at our clinic
Treatment period and frequency
Cost (The cost varies depending on the symptoms and condition.)
*If you make regular appointments for maintenance and bite alignment checks by a dentist as specified by our clinic, we will provide a two-year guarantee after treatment. (If you do not visit the dentist for more than six months, the guarantee will not apply.)
List of associated treatment costs (costs will be incurred as necessary during the above root canal treatment)
If removal of crowns or bases is not required, the cost of removal will not be included in the treatment cost.
Risks and Side Effects
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If a tooth fracture that was not detected during pre-treatment diagnosis is discovered during treatment, we will consider ways to preserve the tooth as much as possible, but there is a possibility that the tooth will need to be extracted in the future.
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Even during precision root canal treatment, nickel-titanium files can break inside the root canal.
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If the inflammation is severe, the pain may not disappear with the first treatment alone. In that case, it may be necessary to use analgesics in combination or resume the next treatment sooner.