Root Canal Therapy in Piara Waters
If you’re having a toothache or experiencing severe sensitivity in one of your teeth, we offer affordable treatments to save your natural teeth.
What Is Root Canal Treatment?
Root canals are a necessary procedure for fixing decayed teeth. A root canal isn’t something you want to put off for too long. If you ignore the signs of tooth decay and infection, you could end up losing your tooth. The procedure involves removing only the damaged or infected portion of your tooth. At Piara Waters Dental, we are proud to offer root canal therapy to provide our patients with relief from dental pain while saving their natural teeth instead of extracting them.
Our experienced dentists have helped hundreds of patients overcome the fear associated with root canal treatments by providing them with gentle care throughout the procedure. We will work on restoring your oral health and comfort as quickly as possible so you can get back to enjoying all types of food without being afraid of damaging your teeth again!
Benefits of
Root Canal Therapy
Root canal therapy provides the following benefits:
Alleviate symptoms of infection
Many people who have a root canal infection experience jaw pain, soreness in the mouth, swollen soft tissues around the infected tooth, an unpleasant smell or taste, difficulty eating or opening the mouth, and fever.
Improve the teeth's appearance
Decay and injury can cause fissures and discolouration on your diseased teeth. If a tooth has been treated with a root canal, it may be restored with a crown, which can significantly enhance its appearance since it can be matched to the surrounding teeth to give you a natural-looking smile.
Avoid tooth extraction
If you suffer from a dental infection, neglecting it can lead to tooth loss. Root canal therapy is a safe and effective way to get rid of the infection so that you don't have to go through more extensive treatment or tooth extraction.
Ready To Schedule An Appointment With Us?
Book an online appointment or give our friendly team a call today!
Call us now!
08 6196 4661Why Choose Piara Waters Dental For Root Canal Therapy
Call us today at 08 6196 4661 if you would like an appointment with one of our dentists.
FAQ’s About Root Canal Treatment
Common signs and symptoms your tooth may need root canal therapy
A root canal procedure may become necessary for a diseased or inflamed pulp. The passages that run through the centre of a tooth connect with the roots—the areas where blood vessels and nerves are found inside the tooth. When these parts of the tooth become infected due to decay or other causes, the pulp tissue and nerves inside the tooth begin to die.
- Toothache: Aching or throbbing in your whole tooth could be an indication of a more severe problem. You may have caught an infection, especially if you’re in pain when eating. On the other hand, symptoms of an infection may go away at some point, such as pain or sensitivity. Still, this does not imply that the condition has been cured; it simply implies that your tooth’s nerves have been destroyed, and you are unable to feel it.
- Swollen soft tissue around the infected tooth: In some situations, gum swelling could indicate that root canal treatment is required. Furthermore, swelling can occur at any moment and may or may not be painful to the touch. It happens when dead pulp tissues release acidic waste, causing swelling around the tooth’s root tip. In addition, any type of swelling should always be evaluated immediately by your dentist.
- Facial swelling: It’s never a good idea to ignore the pain in your mouth, and if you are experiencing an infection at the root of one or more teeth, then it might be time for some dental attention. A tooth abscess may form because bacteria cause pus around those sensitive areas, leading to facial cellulitis, causing your face to swell.
- Tooth abscess: The buildup of bacteria in your teeth can lead to an infection that results in a pocket of pus, or abscess. Depending on the cause, a tooth abscess can develop in different places on the tooth. In periapical abscesses, the abscess forms at the tip of a root; in periodontal abscesses, the abscess forms at the side of the root.
- Tooth discolouration: Discolouration in your teeth can be a sign of infected pulp. If you notice that the colour of your teeth has changed, it’s best to visit a dentist. It could be due to trauma or tissue breakdown, which results in greyish-black teeth.
What to expect during root canal therapy?
Your restorative dentist or an endodontist can perform traditional root canal therapy. However, if the problem is more complicated, they may advise you to see an endodontist because they specialise in treating tooth pulp or dental nerve tissues.
Here’s how root canal therapy is conducted:
Preparation: When you attend your first appointment, the dentist may take an X-ray to look for signs of infection in the region around your teeth. The root canal expert will use local anaesthesia to numb the region before beginning the treatment, making it painless throughout the procedure.
The dentist will use a rubber dam to isolate the infected tooth and keep it clean and dry. Rubber dams protect your teeth while keeping everything out of your mouth.
Opening the Tooth: To access the diseased pulp, the dentist drills a hole in the tooth and removes any dead tissue, including blood vessels and connective tissue, with tiny dental files. A biocompatible material is used to fill the tooth’s pulp chamber after removing any damaged soft tissues. It creates a barrier that protects the tooth against bacteria growing in it.
Cleaning: The dental practitioner will use sterile water or sodium hypochlorite spray to clean away debris. The dentist then sprays and vacuums an antibacterial solution onto the teeth several times to disinfect them.
Root Shaping: Shaping the canals for filling is essential in this process. It must be done to remove all the necrotic tissue from the root-canaled teeth and provide adequate space for filling. Thanks to rotary tools, dentists achieve better results in less time than manual filing in the past.
Root Filling: If the endodontist cannot do the endodontic treatment in one session, she will soak the roots in an antibacterial solution to eliminate bacteria. The restorative dentist can additionally protect your original tooth by placing a temporary root canal filling material during the interval between appointments to keep food or saliva from becoming trapped.
At your next dental visit, the temporary filling will be removed and replaced with a sealer paste and rubber compound known as gutta-percha. After the access hole is sealed, a permanent filling is placed to prevent bacteria from entering the tooth and causing future issues, such as reinfections.
An artificial crown restores functionality and strength when damaged natural teeth cannot be restored. If required, the dentist may also talk about further treatment with you at the time of your appointment.
Depending on how many canals the tooth has, a simple procedure can take between 30-60 minutes. However, you should expect to sit in the dentist’s chair for about 30-90 minutes.
Endodontics has an 85% success rate. If the patient practises good dental hygiene, it may last for a decade. Furthermore, giving up smoking can assist you in maintaining a healthy mouth and improving the health and appearance of your teeth, as well as extending any dental treatment you’ve previously received.
However, after many years following a root canal, it is not unusual to still suffer from tooth discomfort. If you’re feeling severe pain long after your root canal treatment procedure, it’s worth getting an examination and re-treating your teeth to improve their health.
What happens if you don't treat a tooth needing a root canal?
It becomes necessary to root canal a tooth when the nerve tissue inside it dies. Healthy teeth die due to insufficient blood supply due to an injury or deep decay. If left untreated, a severe infection of the tooth’s root can spread to adjacent teeth and affect the gum tissue, resulting in tooth pain and further damage. A dentist will be able to drain a tooth abscess; otherwise, you risk losing your tooth.
If you notice any indications of dental infection in your mouth, contact a dentist right away. It will help you recover more quickly. Furthermore, by maintaining excellent oral hygiene, you can avoid the need for costly treatments.
Alternatives to root canal therapy
Here are some alternatives to standard root canal treatment. You should see your dentist to find out which option is appropriate for you.
Extraction: Having a tooth extracted means pulling out the entire tooth. An extraction may be recommended if severe dental decay or damage cannot be repaired. Usually, it happens when root treatment is not possible.
Pulpotomy: A pulpotomy is a dental operation that removes the pulp tissue from your tooth. This dental procedure is performed if the pulp has been exposed. A pulpotomy, unlike a pulpectomy, preserves the tooth’s root canals and nerves.
A child with baby teeth typically undergoes this procedure, as does an adult whose roots have not fully developed yet. It is frequently used in adults as an emergency therapy until a dentist or endodontist can perform a root canal.
Pulpotomies aren’t ideal for tooth pulp infection or irreversibly damaged. Instead, a pulpectomy or extraction would be necessary.
Direct Pulp Capping: If you do not want to extract the tooth or perform a root canal, your dentist might suggest direct pulp capping. This alternative procedure is done when teeth are severely damaged or decayed to the innermost layer. A cap seals off the area, preventing bacteria from entering and causing infection.
When the pulp is exposed to minor levels and the exposed pulp appears healthy and in good condition, direct pulp cappings are usually recommended. They are an excellent treatment method for young people.
Who performs root canal treatments?
Endodontists:
An endodontist is a dental specialist who treats dental pulp diseases. These specialists often work closely with general practitioners and orthodontics as part of the root canal treatment procedure. On average, they perform 25 root canal treatments every week.
The endodontist is one of the most skilled doctors in dentistry. They offer safe, effective treatments using modern technology. Additionally, it takes endodontists years of training and technical expertise before they can practice.
General Dentist:
General dentists also carry out root canal treatments. However, this kind of restorative dentistry treatment is not their specialty since they did not undergo the required training.
The number of root canals performed varies from one practice to the next, but a general dentist does around two per week on average.
The cost of root canal therapy
The cost of endodontic therapy can vary depending on the number of root canals and whether you need a dental crown for the procedure to be completed.
A root canal procedure without a dental crown usually costs between $2,000 and $3,400 in Australia, according to the 2020 national dental fee survey. For a molar tooth with three canals, the cost can be as much as $2,760 without a crown and $4,760 with a dental crown.
How to prevent the need for a root canal treatment
Have a good oral hygiene routine:
Brushing twice a day and flossing at least once a day does more than simply prevent tooth decay and bad breath; it may also prevent having to have a root canal procedure in the future. Root-damaging germs may be reduced by keeping your teeth and gums as clean as possible.
Wear a mouthguard when necessary:
Wear a mouthguard at night if you clench or grind your teeth while sleeping. It can prevent fractures and the exposure of a tooth’s roots.
Mind Your Diet:
Avoid consuming hard foods that might damage your teeth and allow germs to enter your root system. If you have weak teeth, avoiding hard foods is especially important.
Acidic food and beverages can damage the enamel and coat the teeth with sugar, creating a conducive environment for germs. If you can’t avoid these sorts of foods and drinks entirely, brush your teeth as soon as possible after consuming them.
Visit a dental clinic every six months:
Early detection of a cracked tooth might be possible by scheduling a routine dental checkup and cleaning. Inform your dentist if you notice any discomfort between treatments. Cavities should be treated as soon as possible to prevent tooth damage and nerve trauma so that root canal treatment is unnecessary.