Root Canal Treatment
Tooth pain or infection can make eating, sleeping and everyday life difficult. Root canal treatment can remove the infection, relieve pain and help save your natural tooth.
When the nerve inside a tooth becomes inflamed, damaged or infected, the problem will not usually resolve on its own. At Jaffar Dental, Dr Kevin will carefully assess the tooth and determine whether root canal treatment can be used to preserve it rather than removing it.
Treatment is carefully planned over a series of appointments, with clear explanations at each stage so you know exactly what is happening and why.
What Is A Root Canal Treatment?
Root canal treatment is used to treat infection or damage inside a tooth.
Inside every tooth is soft tissue containing nerves and blood vessels. If this tissue becomes infected or dies because of deep decay, trauma or a crack in the tooth, it can cause significant pain, sensitivity or infection.
Root canal treatment removes the affected tissue, cleans and disinfects the inside of the tooth and seals the canals to help prevent further infection.
The aim is to save your natural tooth whenever possible.
How Do I Know If I Might Need a Root Canal?
You may need root canal treatment if you are experiencing:
* persistent or severe toothache
* sensitivity to hot or cold that lingers
* pain when biting or chewing
* swelling around a tooth or gum
* tenderness around the tooth
* a tooth that has become dark or discoloured
* an abscess or recurring infection
* a tooth that has suffered significant trauma
Sometimes an infected tooth causes very little discomfort, which is why X-rays and examination are important.
What Is Involved?
Root canal treatment is completed in two stages.
During treatment, the tooth is numbed with local anaesthetic and the damaged or infected nerve tissue is carefully removed.
The canals inside the tooth are then thoroughly cleaned and disinfected. Medication and temporary materials may be placed between appointments while the tooth settles and heals.
There is usually around one to two weeks between stages, depending on the condition of the tooth.
At the final stage, the cleaned canals are filled and sealed with a specialised material to help prevent bacteria from re-entering the tooth.
Will Root Canal Treatment Hurt?
The area is numbed with local anaesthetic before treatment begins.
Many patients actually seek root canal treatment because the tooth is already painful. Removing the infected or damaged nerve tissue is intended to address the source of that pain.
It is normal to experience some tenderness after an appointment while the surrounding tissues settle. Dr Kevin will explain what to expect and what to do if you experience discomfort.
What Happens After Root Canal Treatment?
Once treatment is complete, the tooth no longer has a living nerve inside it, but it can still function normally for chewing.
Because a root-treated tooth may be more vulnerable to fracture, additional restoration may sometimes be recommended to help protect it.
Dr Kevin will discuss the condition of your tooth and whether a crown or other restoration would be beneficial.
Why Choose Jaffar Dental for Root Canal Treatment?
Experience and careful assessment
Dr Kevin has extensive experience in general and restorative dentistry and will first determine whether the tooth can be predictably saved.
Treatment completed in our practice
Where appropriate, root canal treatment can be completed here at Jaffar Dental, allowing you to remain with a team you already know.
Clear explanations
We explain what has happened to the tooth, why treatment is recommended and what will happen at each stage.
Careful, staged treatment
Each appointment allows time to clean, disinfect and monitor the tooth before treatment is completed.
Focus on saving your natural tooth
Where possible, our goal is to preserve your own tooth and restore comfortable function.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a root canal treatment cost?
The cost of a root canal treatment depends on the tooth being treated, the number of canals within the tooth and the complexity of treatment. After examining the tooth, Dr Kevin will explain the recommenced treatment and provide you with an expected cost before proceeding.
For root canal treatments, 50% of the treatment cost is payable when treatment begins, with the remaining balance due once treatment is completed. This means you don’t need to cover the full cost all at once, giving you more flexibility and breathing room while treatment is carried out over these appointments.
Eligible private health insurance claims can be processed through HICAPS, and Humm payment options may also be available for eligible patients.
Why not just have the tooth removed?
Extraction may be appropriate in some situations, but if a tooth can be successfully treated and restored, keeping your natural tooth can help maintain your bite and function. Dr Kevin will discuss the options appropriate for your tooth.
How many appointments will I need?
Root canal treatment is generally completed over three appointments, although this can vary depending on the tooth and the extent of infection.
How long is there between appointments?
There is commonly around two weeks between stages so the tooth can settle and be monitored.
Will I need a crown afterwards?
Some root-treated teeth benefit from a crown or other protective restoration, particularly when a significant amount of tooth structure has been lost. Dr Kevin will assess this individually.
Can the infection come back?
Root canal treatment is designed to thoroughly clean and seal the inside of the tooth, but no dental treatment can guarantee that problems will never recur. Regular dental reviews allow us to monitor the tooth over time.
Experiencing Tooth Pain?
If you have persistent toothache, swelling, sensitivity or pain when chewing, it is important to have the tooth assessed.
The earlier we identify the cause, the more treatment options may be available.