Dra. Cléo Salustiano In this article
SummaryWhat does endodontics treat and how does treatment work?When should you look for endodontic care, and what happens after treatment?FAQRead nextEndodontics: what it is, what it treats and when to see a dentist
Quick summary of this article+
Endodontics is the area of dentistry that treats the pulp and root canals. Its best-known procedure is root canal treatment, used when the pulp is inflamed, dead or infected, to save the tooth. Spontaneous pain, lingering sensitivity, swelling, an abscess or a darkened tooth are reasons to book an assessment. After treatment, the tooth often needs a final restoration or a crown.
Endodontics is the area of dentistry that cares for the inside of the tooth: the pulp, where nerves and blood vessels are, and the canals that run through the root. Its best-known procedure is root canal treatment, done when the pulp becomes inflamed or infected, with the goal of saving the tooth instead of extracting it.
The name comes from Greek: endo means inside and odont, tooth. Pain that comes from inside the tooth, sensitivity that lingers, an abscess at the root or a tooth that darkens after a knock are all situations that usually involve endodontics.
In this article, Dr. Cléo Salustiano (CRO-SP 170844), who sees patients in Mooca, in the East Zone of São Paulo, explains what endodontics treats, which signs suggest the pulp may be affected, how treatment works and what happens to the tooth afterwards.
This article comes from Dr. Cléo Salustiano's dental office in Mooca, São Paulo (care in English, Portuguese and Spanish). See the root canal treatment page to learn how the treatment is done here and book your assessment.
What does endodontics treat and how does treatment work?
Endodontics treats problems of the pulp and of the area around the root tip, such as pulp inflammation (pulpitis), nerve death (necrosis), dental abscesses and lesions in the bone at the root tip. Treatment removes the diseased tissue, cleans and disinfects the canals and seals them so the tooth can stay in the mouth.
The pulp is most often reached by deep decay, but problems also follow a knock, a fracture, large repeated fillings or cracks that let bacteria in. Sometimes the pulp dies without any pain, and the first sign is the tooth getting darker.
Under local anesthesia, the dentist isolates the tooth, opens access from the top, locates and measures each canal with X-rays and an apex locator, and cleans the inside with fine instruments and disinfecting solutions. The canals are then filled with a dedicated material and the tooth receives a temporary or final restoration.
The number of visits depends on the tooth and the case. Front teeth usually have one canal; premolars and molars can have two, three or more. When there is active infection, medication may be left inside the canal between visits. Complex cases, such as calcified canals or surgery at the root tip, may be referred to an endodontist.
When should you look for endodontic care, and what happens after treatment?
It is worth booking an assessment if you have pain that starts on its own or wakes you up at night, sensitivity to cold or heat that takes long to go away, pain when chewing, swelling, a pimple with pus on the gum or a tooth that has darkened. These signs alone do not confirm a root canal is needed, but they show the pulp should be examined.
After a root canal, the tooth often feels tender when biting for a few days, usually managed with common painkillers as advised by the dentist. Avoid chewing on that side until the final restoration. If swelling increases, you get a fever or the pain worsens, contact the office.
Back teeth treated with a root canal, especially those that lost a lot of structure, often need a crown or a restoration that covers the cusps to reduce the risk of fracture. Darkened front teeth can receive internal whitening, a veneer or a crown, depending on the case.
In Mooca, Dr. Cléo Salustiano sees patients every day, including Sundays and holidays, from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., about 400 meters from Bresser-Mooca station. Care is available in English, Portuguese and Spanish.
Is endodontics the same as a root canal?
+
Almost. Endodontics is the field of dentistry that deals with the pulp and root canals. Root canal treatment is its most common procedure, but endodontics also includes retreatment of old root canals, protecting the pulp in very deep cavities and, in specific cases, surgery at the root tip.
Does a root canal hurt?
+
With local anesthesia, root canal treatment is usually comfortable, and many patients say it hurt less than expected. The pain that brings people to the office usually comes from the inflamed pulp, which is exactly what treatment resolves. For a few days afterwards, the tooth may feel tender when biting.
What are the signs I may need endodontic treatment?
+
Common signs are spontaneous pain or pain that wakes you at night, lingering sensitivity to cold or heat, pain when chewing, swelling, a pimple with pus on the gum and a darkened tooth. None of them confirms a root canal on its own; diagnosis requires a clinical exam, tests and an X-ray.
How many visits does a root canal take?
+
It varies. A tooth with one canal and no infection may be treated in a single visit; molars, curved canals or cases with an abscess may need two or more, with medication in between. The number of visits is defined after the exam and X-rays and may change during treatment.
What happens if I don't get the root canal?
+
A pulp infection does not heal on its own. Over time it can reach the bone around the root, form an abscess and cause swelling. Even if the pain stops, the nerve may have died while the infection continues silently. Waiting usually makes treatment more complex or leads to losing the tooth.
Is a tooth weaker after a root canal?
+
Not because of the root canal itself, but it has usually lost structure to the decay or fracture that led to treatment. That is why back teeth treated with a root canal often need a crown or a restoration covering the cusps, to reduce the risk of breaking when chewing.
What is root canal retreatment?
+
It means redoing a root canal that was treated before and has problems again, because of a lingering infection, a canal that was missed or leakage under the filling. The old material is removed, the canals are cleaned again and sealed. Retreatment can keep a tooth that would otherwise need extraction.
Where can I get an endodontic assessment in Mooca?
+
Dr. Cléo Salustiano (CRO-SP 170844) sees patients at Rua Hipódromo, 1141, Mooca, every day from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., including Sundays and holidays, in English, Portuguese or Spanish. She examines the tooth, runs tests and an X-ray, and explains whether it needs a root canal. Book by WhatsApp at +55 11 97409-7834.
