Root Canal Treatment

Mention the idea of Root Canal Treatment and watch the facial expressions of the people you tell. Many will automatically raise their eyelids or cringe at the thought, which of course gives you a preconceived idea that it must be a very painful process. You may even have second thoughts about going through with a root canal procedure but we are here to tell you why you should proceed.

Further, you may have some questions you want to ask us to find out about the root canal process so you can feel confident of making the right choice.

We hope the following will answer some of your questions and you are welcome to speak to our friendly dentists should you wish to find out more.

In order to understand why you would need a root canal procedure we need to first explain a little about your teeth. Gaining insight into the composition of your teeth helps to explain how the problem has developed, thereby needing root canal treatment.

The inside of your tooth has sensitive tissue called ‘pulp’. This is the inner part of your tooth and pulp is made up of nerves and blood vessels. The root canal is the place where the pulp sits inside the tooth.

Sometimes if dental decay goes untreated, it can cause the root to become infected or for an abscess to form. If this is the case then we recommend you book in with us so we can assess the need for having a root canal procedure.

The aim of root canal treatment / therapy, which is also known as Endodontic Treatment is to save the tooth that would otherwise be extracted. The alternative to a root canal operation is to have the tooth removed. We can also discuss putting a replacement tooth in its place.

The process involves a number of steps and can be done over several visits and the root canal operation is performed by a qualified endodontist surgeon who specialises in saving teeth. A temporary filling is placed between visits and care should be taken until the crown is placed.

There may be other steps depending on the quality of your tooth / teeth.

Firstly we make an opening in the top of your tooth, remove the infected pulp and clean inside where the pulp was. The canal is then filled and a filling placed on top. The permanent filling or crown is completed during dental visits and you’ll leave with your original tooth still intact but without the pulp that was originally there and infected or problematic.

The infection or abscess is what usually causes the pain prior to any root canal procedure. The aim of going through the root canal process is to stop the pain.

Pain relief is used during the root canal procedure and this is something we discuss with you to ensure it is suitable for each individual.
Once the root canal procedure has been completed their may be some mild pain however in most cases, this is tolerable compared to the pain experienced prior to having the root canal operation.

The cost of root canal surgery can vary depending on how many teeth need treatment, the quality of your teeth and the professional conducting the procedure. As a guide, the root canal costs range between $900 – $1800 Until we conduct an initial consultation with you, we are unable to provide an exact price.

Whether you are between root canal visits / treatment or the root canal is finished, it’s important to know what to do to ensure you don’t undo the good work of your Dentist. We do discuss root canal operation recovery and care with you but it may help you to know:

• Wait until the numbness subsides before eating
• You should eat soft foods once you are able to consume food
• Avoid hot beverages
• Don’t bite down too hard or press too hard on the area that is being treated
• Floss and clean gently

Should pain persist or you have swelling or other symptoms that are not considered normal as per our instructions then we recommend calling us.

Often visiting a dentist is not on the top of someone’s ‘To Do’ list but there are times when you simply have no choice. It may be that you have an abscess, nerve pain, dead tooth or you’re simply in pain and you’re not sure why. For any of these scenarios, we recommend you call us and book in immediately on (03) 9822 6606.