Every dental procedure – whether for health or cosmetic reasons – forms part of a planned treatment process. This is tailored entirely to each patient. Generally speaking, the main stages include: an initial consultation, the creation of a set of models to prepare the treatment plan, the scheduling of treatment appointments, and follow-up check-ups after the dental procedures have been completed.
Treatments at Venelinov Dental Clinic
Resolving a health problem associated with inflammatory processes relieves pain and often saves the patient from losing the tooth. The treatment begins with the exposure of the root canals and their preparation. After irrigation, a sterile environment is created, which is then filled with a thermally activated material. This ensures a seal that preserves the tooth and eliminates the likelihood of the need for retreatment.
Dental procedures for root canal treatment
Gutta-percha is a material that ‘melts’, thereby filling the root canals as effectively as possible. And because of its natural origin – from an African tree – it is not broken down by the body over time. This means there is no risk that, after 10 or 20 years, a cavity will form in the tooth, creating conditions for the growth of microorganisms that could cause a recurrent infection and the need for retreatment.
Retreatment is necessary if there is pain in a tooth that has already been treated, or if an X-ray shows signs of inflammation. A broken instrument from the previous treatment is also a valid reason for retreatment. Even if no pain is felt at this stage or no granuloma has yet formed.
When navigating the root canals, and particularly if optical magnification is not used, there is a high probability that the instrument being used will break. Sometimes the breakage is extremely small and goes unnoticed by the treating dentist. The treatment standards at Venelinov Dental Studio stipulate that leaving an instrument in the root canal is unacceptable.
Once the canals have been accessed, cleaned and filled, the tooth must be reinforced and prepared for the final restoration of the crown. The ‘reinforcement’ procedure may involve the use of a fibre post or glass fibres, depending on the position of the tooth. This is a separate stage in the treatment of the tooth.
To ensure that the crown restoration is permanent and to minimise the likelihood of gum recession, the gums must be given time to adapt to the restoration. This cannot be achieved precisely with a crown fabricated on the spot in the dental surgery. To this end, a crown is prepared in the dental laboratory which closely resembles the shape of the final crown but is made from a different material. This allows the patient to experience what adjustments are needed and enables the treating dentist to make them. As a result, the final restoration will make good contact with the adjacent and opposing teeth, and the gum line will take shape without being damaged. Thus, the first temporary crown is used to ensure the tooth’s chewing function and protect its structure until the laboratory-made crown is ready.
X-rays are necessary because they reveal whether there is any hidden tooth decay. They also show the tooth’s root canals and whether, following root canal treatment, they have been filled all the way to the end.
