Root Canal Treatment – A Lifeline for Your Natural Teeth

There is a reason why millions of damaged and diseased teeth are treated each year with root canals.

A root canal is the best treatment for relieving pain caused by infection while at the same time saving the tooth. As a conscientious Woden dentist, we always do everything in our power to preserve your natural teeth before considering any other options. It is true that a root canal treatment means that your tooth is not technically alive anymore. However, it does mean that it will stay put and you can keep your beautiful smile perfectly intact.

What is a Root Canal?

Every tooth has a root that anchors it into your jawbone. Inside the root is a substance called the pulp. The pulp is a mixture of blood vessels and nerves. The pulp chamber extends into the roots of your teeth. Sometimes, when a tooth is infected, the bacteria enters this area. While the pulp is vital during a tooth’s growth and development, once fully mature, it can survive without it.

A root canal treatment is used to treat infection within the root canal system by removing the pulp and filling the space. Once an infection has reached the root system, it is the only treatment that can save the tooth naturally.

There are many advantages to root canal treatment:

• You can continue to chew as normal
• The same biting force and sensation can be applied
• Your tooth appears natural and healthy
• Adjacent teeth are protected from excessive wear and strain

Why Might You Need a Root Canal Treatment?

Once a tooth becomes damaged, there is a chance that bacteria will get inside it. Bacteria can spread into the pulp of the tooth and into the root canal. While antibiotics will temporarily help the infection, they won’t remove it entirely. An infection that goes untreated can lead to an abscess and the infection can spread further into your jawbone. Once you have an infection within the root, the only long-term options are extraction or a root canal.

There are a variety of reasons why you might need a root canal:

• Severe tooth decay
• Repeated dental procedures
• A cracked tooth or broken crown
• Cracked or loose fillings
• Gum disease
• Trauma to the tooth

If you need a root canal treatment, you most likely have either a visible injury or swelling to the tooth, will be sensitive to temperature, or will have pain in your tooth and gums. Whatever the cause, a root canal is the only way to remove the infection and prevent your tooth from extraction.

Root Canal – The Treatment Process

If we suspect that the root of your tooth has become infected, then a root canal is likely. That way the infection can be cleared and the tooth can be saved.

The first step is to book a free consultation with us at our dental practice in Woden. We will review your symptoms and decide on the best treatment. If you are in pain from the infection, we will be able to prescribe painkillers and antibiotics. Making sure that you are more comfortable will be the first priority.

After your examination with us and we have taken an x-ray of your tooth, we can confirm whether a root canal treatment is the best course of action. If there is a risk of a complication arising, we will let you know immediately. All being well the treatment is then performed in two stages:

1. Removing the pulp

You will be given a local anaesthetic injection before we begin the procedure to ensure you don’t feel any pain. Once the area is numb, we will isolate the tooth to ensure there is no further spread of infection. The dentist will then make a hole in your tooth to remove the pulp. A small instrument and liquid are used to thoroughly irrigate and disinfect the area. Your tooth will then be temporarily filled and sealed.

2. Filling the tooth

At your second appointment, you will again receive a local anaesthetic to ensure the treatment is pain-free. The temporary filling is removed. Then the tooth will be checked to ensure all of the pulp and infection were removed. Your dentist will fill the tooth with a permanent filling and ensure it is set in place.

After your treatment, you may need to take some over-the-counter pain relief for a few days. After that, you should be pain-free and back to normal. It’s essential to look after your repaired tooth by brushing your teeth regularly. You should continue to have check-ups with your dentist and be cautious about certain foods. If you practice good oral hygiene, your restored tooth may well last as long as your other teeth.

What Is The Cost of a Root Canal?

The root canal cost can vary depending on the damage to the tooth. It’s worth noting that a root canal is less expensive than tooth extraction and replacing the tooth with a crown. Our dentist would need to assess your situation first before we can give an accurate quote. This is why we offer a free consultation so our dentist can take a good look at your teeth and provide an accurate quote for the treatment. That said, we understand that dental treatments can be a significant expense. To help make the cost of a root canal treatment easier to manage, we have several payment plans in place.

Certegy Ezi-Pay: A flexible, no-interest payment plan that enables you to receive your dental treatment. You then pay it back over an agreed timeframe.
Pensioner and student discounts: Receive up to 15% off. Bulk billing is available for routine dental treatment for children under the age of 12.
Medicare child benefit scheme: Funding of up to $1,000 available to families who receive certain benefits.
Health funds: We accept health funds and are a preferred provider for Medibank Private, HCF and Cbhs.
Smile.com.au: a subscription-based service giving you reduced dental treatment fees.

Would like to know more about any of our payment options? We would be more than happy to talk you through them and help you find an affordable solution.

Why Choose Acacia Dental Group?

We perform many root canals each year. Dr. Mallik conducts the vast majority of these, and with over 20 years of dental experience behind him, you’ll be in safe hands. We are dedicated to ensuring every patient gets the treatment they need. However, we occasionally call upon a root canal specialist if you have unique circumstances. Either way, your treatment will always be personalised for your individual needs. You can be sure that you will get the best possible treatment with the best possible outcome at a fair price.

Book an Appointment with Acacia Dental

If you think there is a chance you need a root canal then the sooner you make an appointment with us the better. If you need to book your root canal treatment in Woden, we will ensure we review your situation immediately and offer you the fastest possible appointment. It’s no fun being in pain from an infected tooth. We make every effort to get you to a pain-free state as quickly as possible. And restore your teeth to looking and feeling comfortable again.

Call us today at (02) 6281 2222 to book your appointment.