Endodontic treatment
Endodontics is the branch of dentistry that deals with the treatment of root canals. All procedures inside the root canals are performed by an endodontist.
The roots anchor the tooth in the alveolar bone of the jaw, and neurovascular bundles run through the root canals. That is why a serious root disease rarely goes unnoticed: it comes with severe pain, from sharp to aching.
What is endodontic treatment
Endodontic treatment aims to thoroughly clean the root canals of infection, inflamed tissue, and granulation tissue. The most common reason for it is untreated caries that has reached the tooth pulp (pulpitis). Another common case is when infection has spread beyond the root tip and apical periodontitis has developed. The endodontist cleans, disinfects, and widens (shapes) the root canals and, at the end of treatment, fills and seals them tightly.
There are two methods of root canal treatment: therapeutic and surgical.
The therapeutic method is used only for pulpitis. Its key feature is that the pulp is treated rather than removed, so the tooth remains alive (vital) after treatment.
The surgical method is used in some cases of pulpitis and for all other diagnoses. The pulp (nerve) is removed completely, after which the tooth no longer receives nourishment but continues to perform its main functions — chewing and esthetics.
When endodontic treatment is needed
Pulpitis
Inflammation of the soft tissue of the tooth (pulp) caused by rapidly progressing caries.
Symptoms of pulpitis: sharp, throbbing pain; strong sensitivity to hot and cold; pain radiating from the tooth to the neck; pain that gets worse at night.
Apical periodontitis
Inflammation of the jawbone around the tip (apex) of the tooth root.
Symptoms of apical periodontitis: aching or sharp pain, a feeling of pressure, a feeling that the tooth is “high” or longer than the others, pain when biting, bad breath, pus discharge, and swelling.
Pulp injury
Damage to the pulp caused by an injury to the crown of the tooth — a chip or a fracture. The extent of the injury is assessed on an X-ray.
Symptoms: there may be none in the first few hours. If you do not seek help in time, sharp or aching pain, an unpleasant odor, and strong sensitivity to hot and cold may develop.
Endodontic retreatment
Endodontic retreatment is the repeated treatment of previously treated root canals. Indications include poorly sealed canals, filling material pushed beyond the root tip, root perforation, a broken instrument left in the canal, and a planned replacement of prosthetic restorations.
Preparation for prosthetics
In most (though not all) clinical cases, the nerve is removed from a tooth before prosthetic restorations are placed, to prevent inflammation under a crown or bridge.
Endodontic treatment process
Anesthesia
Isolation
Removal of decayed tissue
Nerve removal
Canal length measurement
Mechanical canal shaping
Medication placement
Temporary filling
Irrigation
Drying
Permanent canal filling
Verification X-ray
Tooth filling
Our doctors
Maksym Makarenko
Svitlana Kovalenko
Roman Mamonov
Yevhen Makarenko
Maryna Mamonova
Lidiia Bulyhina
Cost of dental treatment
Professional teeth cleaning
from 2,900 UAH
The price includes: examination and consultation with a dentist, removal of hard dental deposits with ultrasound, removal of soft dental deposits with a special paste, and treatment of the teeth with a remineralizing or anti-inflammatory gel.
Air Flow
900 UAH
Cleaning with a jet of air, water, and baking soda. The method removes soft plaque in hard-to-reach areas, as well as yellow stains from tobacco or coffee. The price is for one jaw.
Tooth restoration and filling
from 4,900 UAH
The price includes: consultation with a dentist, all necessary procedures, restorative material, anesthesia, and a rubber dam.
Endodontic treatment (per canal)
from 6,000 UAH
Microscope-assisted treatment
from 2,000 UAH
Payment
We have no hidden fees. Payment is made according to the price list and the agreed treatment plan.
You can pay in cash or by card (via a bank terminal).
Treatment can also be covered by your insurance company or provided under a corporate agreement.
Warranty
We offer a warranty on all types of dental treatment services, provided that the patient follows all of the dentist’s requirements and recommendations. You can find more details in the “Warranty” section.
Clinic locations in Kyiv
Our dental clinics are easiest to reach from the following Kyiv districts:
Clinic at 25B Novomostytska St., Kyiv — Vynohradar, Kurenivka, Obolon, Syrets, Minskyi Masyv.
Clinic at 20 Pidvysotskoho St., Kyiv — Pecherskyi District, Zvirynetska metro station.
Clinic at 60/1 Yalynkova St., Kyiv — Kharkivskyi Masyv, Boryspilska metro, Chervonyi Khutir, Vyrlytsia, Kharkivska.
Should the nerve be removed under a crown?
Whether a tooth’s nerve should be removed before placing a crown or a bridge is a question on which dentists are divided. In this video, dental surgeon Maksym Makarenko shares his view on removing the nerve under a crown.
Frequently asked questions about root canal treatment
How many visits does endodontic treatment take?
Depending on the clinical case, it takes 1 to 4 visits to the endodontist. With some diagnoses, such as acute apical periodontitis, the dentist places medication for several days and then replaces it. This may be repeated several times until the inflammation subsides. In some cases, the entire treatment can be completed in 1 visit.
A tooth without a nerve has darkened: can this be fixed?
A dentist needs to examine the tooth to find the cause of the dentin discoloration. Patients who had endodontic treatment many years ago often come with this concern: medications that cause this effect were widely used at that time. The problem is usually solved with internal (endodontic) bleaching of the tooth or with dental veneers.
Does a tooth hurt after nerve removal?
Pain after endodontic treatment can be either normal or a sign of a complication. Moderate, tolerable, steady pain in the first 2–3 days after treatment is normal; residual sensations may persist for another 2–3 weeks. If the pain is sharp and increasing in the first few days, does not subside, or is still there 3 weeks after treatment, see your dentist.
How painful is root canal treatment?
Since the dentist works with exposed nerve endings and sensitive tissue, the entire treatment is performed under local anesthesia. When the anesthetic starts to wear off, the dentist administers more, so the patient does not feel sharp pain. For patients who are very afraid of treatment, treatment under sedation is also available.
A broken instrument was found on the X-ray: what should you do?
If the canals are well filled and the tooth does not bother you, a broken instrument poses no threat. If the root needs retreatment, look for an experienced specialist who works with a dental microscope and can remove the instrument. The dentist’s expertise and the right equipment are the key to successful treatment without damage to the tooth root.
How long will a tooth without a nerve last?
A tooth without a nerve can last a lifetime. How long it lasts depends on the quality of the treatment and the patient’s overall health. That is why it is important to treat teeth, and to do it well.
