One of the primary objectives of the Department of Endodontics is to provide our patients with high-quality dental treatment based on scientific evidence. Through our undergraduate and postgraduate programs, our main goal is to educate fully equipped dentists who can provide treatment of the same high standard, embrace ethical principles, keep up with current knowledge, remain open to professional development, and pursue scientific excellence.

In addition, we aim to elevate our department to a prominent position in international rankings by conducting high-quality research projects and publishing our findings in reputable journals indexed in the international literature. Although our department is still in the establishment phase, our young, dynamic, and developing team is ready and competent to provide a wide range of clinical and academic services.

The following information may help guide our patients when they visit our clinic.

What Is Root Canal Treatment (Endodontic Treatment)?

Inside the root of a tooth lies the pulp, a neurovascular tissue commonly referred to as the “nerve of the tooth,” which maintains the vitality of the tooth. When the pulp becomes damaged and/or inflamed, it is removed from the tooth. The root canal is then shaped and cleaned before being hermetically sealed with biocompatible root canal filling materials. This procedure is called root canal treatment.

When Is Root Canal Treatment Necessary?

Patients generally visit our clinic with the following complaints:

• Severe and prolonged pain

• Pain that wakes them up at night

• Pain that interferes with chewing

• Pain that starts spontaneously and persists for a long time

• Prolonged pain in response to hot or cold stimuli

In addition, teeth that have lost their vitality may not cause any pain. In such teeth, lesions may develop around the root apex, and swelling may sometimes be observed inside the mouth and/or on the face. These teeth are diagnosed through radiographic examinations.

Why Is Root Canal Treatment Necessary?

If inflammation that begins in the pulp is left untreated, it may progress and lead to the development of a lesion around the root apex. As the condition advances, destruction of the bone tissue surrounding the root may occur. If treatment is delayed for an extended period, tooth extraction may become necessary.

One of the most important principles of modern dentistry is to preserve the health of existing natural teeth to the greatest extent possible. Following successful root canal treatment, teeth can remain healthy and functional in the mouth for many years. Therefore, root canal treatment is one of the most important procedures for enabling patients to retain and continue using their natural teeth.

What Is Regenerative Endodontic Treatment?

Regenerative endodontic treatment is a treatment option aimed at restoring the health and vitality of a tooth with damaged pulp tissue. This approach may help the tooth regain a healthy condition and perform its functions properly. Regenerative endodontic treatment can be successfully applied not only to teeth with incomplete root development but also to mature teeth in adults.

What Are Vital Pulp Therapies?

When pulp damage has the potential to be reversible, vital pulp therapy may be performed, often in conjunction with a deep restoration. This approach allows the tooth to maintain its vitality and continue functioning without the need for root canal treatment.

What Causes Toothache?

Toothache can arise from various intraoral or extraoral causes, including dental caries, gum disease, cracks in the teeth, enamel wear, and even sinusitis. However, the most common cause of toothache is dental caries, which typically develops in the presence of inadequate oral hygiene.

How Does Pain Develop in Dental Caries?

As dental caries progresses, the numerous microorganisms responsible for its development may reach the pulp tissue. Initially mild pain may gradually become more severe as the decay advances.

Tooth-related pain can manifest in several ways, including severe and prolonged sensitivity to hot or cold stimuli, pain caused by pressure during chewing, or spontaneous pain that begins without an apparent trigger and persists for a long time.

What Is Nighttime Toothache? Why Does It Occur?

Severe, spontaneous toothache that begins at night may indicate inflammation in a severely decayed tooth. This inflammatory process creates pressure in the tissues surrounding the root. Combined with certain physiological changes that occur at night, the increased pressure may cause throbbing pain severe enough to wake a person from sleep.

How Is Toothache Treated?

Toothache should not be expected to resolve on its own. Traditional remedies such as cloves, garlic, alcohol, and aspirin are ineffective for treating the underlying cause and are not recommended, as they may damage the tooth and surrounding tissues.

If dental caries has progressed into the pulp or the pulp has lost its vitality for other reasons, such as trauma or tooth fracture, root canal treatment should be performed by an endodontist.

Is Root Canal Treatment Painful?

Root canal treatment is performed under local anesthesia and is therefore generally not a painful procedure. However, achieving adequate anesthesia can sometimes be challenging in teeth associated with severe pain or infection. In such cases, advanced anesthesia techniques can be used to ensure that the tooth is sufficiently anesthetized.

What Is the Success Rate of Root Canal Treatment?

The success rate of root canal treatment is significantly influenced by the anatomy of the root canal system. In teeth with complex canal anatomy, removing the infection and properly shaping the canals can be more difficult.

When performed correctly and in accordance with established clinical principles, root canal treatment has an average success rate of approximately 90–95%. However, studies have shown that this rate may decrease to as low as 44% in teeth presenting with pain and inflammation.

Can a Tooth Hurt After Root Canal Treatment?

Following root canal treatment, the tooth loses its pulp vitality and no longer responds to external stimuli in the same way as a vital tooth. However, the surrounding tissues remain vital.

Therefore, mild pain or tenderness during chewing may occur for the first few weeks after treatment. Like other tissues in the body, the tissues surrounding the tooth need time to heal.

What Should I Do If My Pain Does Not Go Away?

If pain persists over time or the treated tooth cannot be used comfortably during normal function, the root canal treatment may have been incomplete or inadequate. In such cases, the treated tooth should be examined by an endodontist.

If the previous treatment is found to be insufficient, the existing root canal filling may need to be removed, followed by cleaning of the root canal system and repeat root canal treatment. This procedure is called retreatment.

If retreatment is unsuccessful, the tooth may be treated surgically through a procedure called apical resection (root-end surgery). This procedure involves cleaning the tissues surrounding the tooth root and sealing the root tip with a special biocompatible filling material.

If surgical intervention also fails to resolve the problem, the most appropriate treatment may be tooth extraction, followed by restoration with a dental implant and/or a crown or bridge.

Main Clinical Services Provided by Our Department

Our department provides the following principal clinical services:

• Root Canal Treatment

• Retreatment (Root Canal Treatment Revision)

• Vital Pulp Therapies

• Endodontic Treatment of Traumatic Dental Injuries

• Intracanal Fiber Post Placement

• Regenerative Endodontic Treatment for Teeth with Open Apices

• Regenerative Endodontic Treatment for Mature Teeth in Adults

• Non-Vital (Internal) Tooth Bleaching

• Apical Resection (Root-End Surgery)