What is a root canal treatment?
Pain is never a good sign when it comes to teeth. Persistent pain from a single tooth is usually an indication that you need dental treatment. At The Dentist at 70 Pitt Street, we use the latest techniques and tools to ensure you’re pain-free in the blink of an eye!
So if you’re suffering from constant tooth pain and are concerned that you might need root canal treatment in Sydney, you can contact the experts at The Dentist for fast, effective and caring treatment.
A root canal treatment (also known as endodontic therapy) is the removal of the dental pulp (the soft centre of your tooth) that has become infected by bacteria. The pulp is made up of connective tissue, nerves and blood vessels that supply oxygen and nutrients to the tooth’s hard outer layer.
The infected pulp causes significant pain and discomfort and if left untreated, the infection can spread throughout your mouth. Root canal therapy removes the pulp and any decaying parts of the infected tooth. The treated tooth is then cleaned and the resulting space is filled and sealed, alleviating the pain and preventing any further infection.
Root canals remove the damaged or infected pulp from the infected tooth, which is essential in preventing the spread of infection to other areas of the mouth.
What are the common symptoms
of needing a root canal?
Common symptoms of needing a root canal are:
- Severe sudden tooth pain
- The pain intensifies when you eat
- The tooth is more sensitive to hot and cold temperatures
- The tooth looks visibly darker
- Tender or swollen gums
- Swelling of your neck or face
- There’s a hole in the tooth
- The tooth has become loose
- There is pus near the infected tooth
What are the benefits of root canal therapy?
There are a number of benefits associated with root canal therapy:
- Prevents the need for tooth extraction
- Saving the natural tooth increases the likelihood of preventing future dental issues
- Restores full function to the infected tooth
- Prevents the spread of infection
- Prevents any jawbone degeneration
Am I the right candidate for root canal therapy?
If you’re suffering from tooth pain, whether it’s constant or only when you eat, you may be the right candidate for root canal therapy. Also if your tooth feels loose, is discoloured or more sensitive to hot and cold temperatures than usual, you should seek the advice of a dental expert.
However, it’s also important to note that symptoms aren’t always obvious. If you’re at all concerned that you may have an infection, the best course of action is to book an initial consultation with us, where we can give you a thorough examination and let you know if you need endodontic treatment.
What happens during a root
canal procedure in Sydney?
If you choose to have your root canal procedure with us, this is what you can expect:
Consultation
At your initial consultation, we’ll take the time to get to know you and answer any questions you may have. We’ll make a full assessment of your medical and lifestyle risk from your completed new patient registration form and complete a thorough examination to determine the best course of treatment for you.
Procedure
During root canal treatments we clean the inside of a tooth and its roots, mechanically and chemically. Once this is done, the roots and the visible part of the tooth (the crown) are filled with resin and rubber filling and ultimately covered with a long-term ceramic or gold restoration or a crown. The treatment is carried out using local anaesthesia, so you won’t feel any pain.
Recovery
The pain experienced after a root canal is usually mild but can take a few days for discomfort and swelling to subside. If you are experiencing any pain, you can take pain relief and anti-inflammatory medication (Paracetamol and Ibuprofen).
You should avoid eating hard or crunchy foods for a few days after to help your tooth and gum heal and to make sure the filling doesn’t come loose. It’s also important to brush and floss the treated tooth just like the rest of your teeth to avoid any further issues.
How much does a root canal
treatment cost in Sydney?
Our root canal treatments cost approximately $650 – $1950. We recommend booking a consultation with us so that we can provide you with an accurate quote for the treatment you require. If you have a private health fund they will pay part of your treatment and we can process this for you at the time, so you will only have to pay the difference.
We also now have a direct debit option available to our existing clients. To discuss, please contact our Practice Manager on (02) 9233 3399. The payment plans are interest-free.
Our other restorative treatment services
Learn more about our range of dental services:
New Patient Offer
1st Visit comprehensive Examination,
Check-up, Teeth Cleaning for New Patients
- Pay Only $300 (regular price: $486)
- Comprehensive Oral Examination and Consult ($65)
- 2x bite-wing x-rays ($42 each)
- 1x Dental Panoramic OPG x-ray ($100)
- Comprehensive Scale & Clean ($210)
- Fluoride treatment ($27)
FAQs
Below are some of our most frequently asked questions about our root canal treatments in Sydney:
Root canal treatment usually takes two visits to complete but may take more or fewer visits depending on the problem. Once the root canal treatment is completed a permanent filling is required on top to protect the tooth.
Occasionally, we may recommend specialist Endodontist care for teeth that may be more complex to treat. A painful tooth may require re-treatment or surgery by an Endodontist (root canal specialist). If all else fails the tooth may require removal, as a last resort.
Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks, but when carried out by an appropriately qualified health practitioner, root canals are one of the safest and most successful dental procedures currently performed.
No the root canal process is almost pain-free due to the use of a local anaesthetic during the endodontic treatment.
The best way to avoid root canal treatment is to ensure you brush your teeth twice a day, floss, use quality toothpaste and regularly visit your dentist for checkups.
No, generally health insurance extras in Sydney do not cover root canal therapy.
Typically a standard root canal takes between 30 minutes to an hour.
If you still have severe pain after the treatment, or if your tooth feels better and then becomes painful again, you may have a failed root canal.
There are minimal potential side effects of a root canal but very rarely the surrounding nerves around the affected tooth can be disrupted, which can cause numbness in that area. However, it’s nothing to be concerned about and it usually goes away within a few weeks.
You can eat soft foods after a root canal but we would recommend not drinking hot or cold beverages (including coffee) straight after the procedure.
Book an appointment today and save $177 on your first visit
Why choose us for
your root canal procedure in Sydney?
We at The Dentist at 70 Pitt Street, understand how much root canal pain can affect your everyday life. We also know how important your dental health is to your overall health care.
That’s why we strive to make any dental work you have both a pleasant and an affordable experience.