Wisdom Teeth, Root Treatments & Co

2023 Author: Wallace Forman | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-11-27 18:19

Wisdom teeth, root canal treatments & Co

The most common dental treatments include tooth extraction, root canal treatment, and apical resection. These routine procedures are performed under local or, if necessary, general anesthesia…

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• more on the subject
• Advice, downloads & tools
• Tooth extraction
• Wisdom teeth special case
• Root canal treatment
• Apical resection
• Whom can I ask?
• How are the costs going to be covered?

Tooth extraction

Practically everyone has to have one or more teeth "pulled" in the course of their lives. There are a variety of reasons why tooth extraction (tooth extraction) is necessary, such as:

• The caries has already penetrated deep into the tooth and a root canal treatment is either not possible or not desired.
• Inflammation has destroyed a large part of the tooth and the surrounding bone.
• There is not enough space in the mouth for all of the teeth.
• A tooth has partially erupted and poses an increased risk of infection and a health threat to the surrounding bone or teeth.

Before your dentist removes a tooth, he / she will take a look at your medical and dental history. The length, shape and position of the tooth and the surrounding bone are determined by means of an X-ray examination. From this, the degree of difficulty of the intervention can be estimated.

With a simple extraction, the tooth is loosened with special instruments under local anesthesia and then removed with dental pliers.

If more extensive surgical measures are required to remove the teeth, such as the formation of a mucous membrane-periosteum flap and the removal of bone, general anesthesia may very rarely be required. After the procedure, the underlying bone may be smoothed and the operated area sutured.

Pain and swelling may occur after tooth extraction, but this will subside after a few days. In the short term, taking painkillers - preferably prescribed by the dentist - may be helpful. Acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin) should not be used after tooth extraction, as it has a negative effect on blood clotting and clot formation. In this case, pain relievers containing ibuprofen, paracetamol or diclofenac are cheaper. In the event of persistent or severe pain, swelling, bleeding or fever, you should contact your dentist immediately.

Wisdom teeth special case

Wisdom teeth are the rearmost molars on either side of the jaw. They are the last teeth to break through into the oral cavity, usually between the ages of 16 and 20. Often there is not enough space left for them. This can result in the wisdom teeth being wedged, only partially breaking through, or lying across the jaw. This can cause painful swelling and inflammation. Sometimes a minor surgery is required to help a wisdom tooth emerge.

Wisdom teeth often develop tooth decay at an early age and are therefore often pulled at a young age, not least because their absence neither affects our chewing function nor affects the bite position or aesthetic disadvantages.

Root canal treatment

In a root canal treatment, incurably diseased, inflamed, injured or dead tooth pulp (tooth pulp) is removed. This is to prevent pus and subsequently an abscess from forming at the tip of the root, which can destroy the bone. The most common causes of damage or death to the dental pulp are a chipped or injured tooth or a deep carious hole.

Typical complaints are:

• Heat pain,
• Pain when biting or not eating,
• a tooth feels elongated,
• Sensation of pressure in the area of the root tip.

The simplest diagnostic procedure is the so-called vitality test with the ice spray. If the patient feels severe pain that does not go away within a few seconds, this indicates an inflammation of the tooth pulp. Before the start of the treatment, the tooth is x-rayed to determine the degree of inflammation and the anatomical conditions. This information enables the dentist to decide whether the tooth can be preserved and how the treatment can be carried out.

First, access to the inflamed pulp is created with a sterile drill and this is removed from all nerve canals - one to five, depending on the tooth - with a special spoon (excavator) or a nerve needle. Subsequently, the resulting cavity is cleaned, disinfected and sealed against bacteria with a root canal filling. Most recently, a crown is placed on the tooth to restore its natural shape and appearance. Sometimes a metal or plastic pin is inserted into the canal to give the crown a better grip. This multi-stage process, which usually requires several visits to the dentist, can now save many teeth that previously had to be extracted.

Note A root-treated tooth can last a lifetime if properly cared for. Since tooth decay can also occur in treated teeth, good oral care and regular check-ups are essential to avoid further problems.

For more information, see Healthy Teeth.

Apical resection

A root tip resection (WSR) is a surgical procedure in which the root tip of a tooth that has already been treated with a root canal and its inflamed area are removed. It is necessary if a previous root canal treatment did not lead to freedom from inflammation and serves to preserve the affected tooth.

Typical complaints that can lead to a tip resection:

• Pain, local or radiating,
• Feeling of pressure,
• acute flare-up of chronic inflammation around the tip of the root, possibly with the formation of an abscess or a fistula,
• Sensitivity to biting or knocking of a tooth.

During the operation, an access through the bone to the root tip is created under local anesthesia and the inflamed tissue is removed. The final root filling of the tooth can then take place. After disinfection, the wound is closed with a suture. If the treatment is successful, the tooth can be preserved for many years.

Whom can I ask?

Tooth extractions, root canals, and apicectomy are routine treatments that can be performed in any dental practice.

How are the costs going to be covered?

The costs for medically justified tooth extractions as well as for root treatments and root tip resections are covered by the social security agencies.