Root Canal Therapy

Root canal therapy involves the removal of a tooth’s dental pulp and bacteria that may be present in the pulp to avoid extraction

We believe that saving your natural tooth is the ideal solution to dental infection, with no replacement matching what nature gave you. Most studies show that root canal treated teeth done to a high technical standard have similar longevity to dental implants.

Endodontic treatment, commonly referred to as root canal therapy, is an effective method for addressing a tooth that has experienced considerable damage from disease, decay, or dental trauma. In such cases, the dental pulp (nerve) of a tooth can become infected which may spread to the surrounding bone. Root canal therapy is a procedure that entails the removal of infected or diseased tissue from the tooth’s root followed by the placement of a root filling. The primary objective of these treatments is to alleviate pain and save your natural tooth.

Symptoms that may indicate the need for root canal therapy can vary, including sensitivity to hot or cold, spontaneous pain, discomfort while biting or chewing, and potential swelling.

Procedure

Root canal therapy generally requires one to two appointments, depending on the level of infection, the severity of symptoms, and the presence of other contributing factors.

The first step is accessing and removing the damaged and/or infected pulp. The root canals of the tooth are located, cleaned, and disinfected. In some cases, an antibacterial medication is placed inside the tooth and a temporary restoration placed. Typically, a few weeks later, the medication is removed, a root filling is placed in the canals, and a permanent filling is applied to seal the tooth from reinfection. In some cases, this can be all completed in a single visit.

A prevalent misconception is that root canal treatments are painful and uncomfortable. In reality, this is not the case, as our clinic utilises the latest technologies, allowing most, if not all, root canal procedures to be performed comfortably in the dental chair with local anaesthesia. Our Endodontist is committed to ensuring your experience is as painless as possible. If you have concerns about dental procedures, our Endodontist is more than willing to discuss suitable sedation options during your initial consultation.

After your appointment

Recovery at the completion of endodontic treatment will vary for each patient.

Typically, any discomfort felt at the completion of treatment is minimal, lasting 1-2 days. Any discomfort is usually well controlled with over the counter pain medication with no need to miss time off work.

Your Endodontist will discuss this with you in detail at the completion of treatment.