Endodontics

Root canal treatment is the general name of the methods used to treat a dead, dying or inflamed dental pulp (popularly known as ‘nerve’). Its main purpose is to restore the problem area to its former form and make it functional again. Endodontology or endodontics is the art and science of root canal treatment. Endodontics, as a major, is taught at undergraduate and graduate levels in many universities. Endodontic treatment is required when a dental pulp becomes inflamed or necrotic due to a blow to the mouth or tooth, deep tooth decay, reaction to a very deep filling, crack or split in the tooth. Because the presence of a necrotic or dead nerve leads to the formation of an abscess. Endodontic problems often occur in an acute phase with pain and swelling; however, in many cases the patient is asymptomatic and the presence of an endodontic problem is clearly diagnosed through a routine x-ray or radiological imaging.