Root Canal Treatment
Dealing with an infected tooth can be a real pain, and the last thing you want is more trouble down the road. That's why prompt attention is key. Don't worry; Valley Dental has your back. Our root canal treatment will put you at ease by reducing discomfort and saving your tooth.
root canal Fortitude valley
First things first, let’s explore the anatomy of your natural tooth. The tooth consists of multiple layers, with enamel forming the hard and protective outer surface, safeguarding the visible part of the tooth known as the crown. Beneath the enamel lies dentine, a sturdy tissue that forms most of the tooth's structure. At the core, you’ll find the tooth pulp, a vital part containing blood vessels, nerves, and connective tissues that nourish the tooth and provides sensitivity to hot, cold and pressure.
When harmful bacteria enter the pulp chamber through cavities or cracks in the tooth, they can cause a few issues, leading to inflammation and infection in the delicate pulp tissue. This can cause some serious pain and is usually when root canal therapy is the best intervention method.
A root canal is a restorative dental treatment aimed at saving an infected tooth (provided we can still save it). The root canal addresses the innermost part of the tooth alleviating pain, removing infection and preserving the natural tooth where possible.
Some symptoms of an infected tooth indicating you might need a root canal include sensitivity to hot or cold, pain chewing or biting, a mild to severe toothache, swollen gums or a sore that comes and goes on the gum.
What Is a root canal?
A cracked or Infected tooth is usually identified during a routine dental checkup, and this is where your dentist may recommend root canal treatment.
At Valley Dental, we ensure your comfort throughout the root canal process, which can vary between takes 50-90 minutes in a single appointment. Our relaxing environment, TV distractions, and oral sedatives help ease dental anxiety, making the experience as smooth as possible. The root canal procedure is broken down into four stages:
Removing infected tooth pulp: This is considered an emergency appointment. Once we ensure you're not feeling any pain and are nice and relaxed with a local anaesthetic, we'll get to the infected pulp using a dental drill. We'll carefully remove the infected tooth pulp causing you trouble, ensuring we save as much of the tooth structure as possible. e.
Cleaning the tooth: Now that the infected tooth pulp has been removed, our goal is to ensure there is no lingering infection or bacteria. We’ll thoroughly clean deep into your root canals and ensure they’re squeaky clean and disinfected. A medication and antibacterial agent are then placed inside the tooth to kill any residual bugs that may be left behind.
Filling the tooth canals: After we’ve removed all of the bacteria from the root canals and the tooth is back to a healthy state, a rubber-like material is inserted into the root canal. The rubber is used to seal the space in the tooth, prevent future infections and is designed to last the life of the tooth.
Restoring the tooth: As the final touch in the root canal treatment, we'll give your tooth its original shape and beauty back using a dental crown. We do this to seal the hard work done with the root canal but also to improve the strength of the tooth afterwards. We'll create an impression of your tooth and pop on a temporary crown, securing everything until your next appointment. At that visit, we'll put in the real crown, making your tooth look and feel its best again.
Root canal procedure
Root canal accessory treatments
After a root canal, the tooth might not be as strong as before, so we need to take some extra steps to make sure it stays healthy and works well. That's where a dental crown comes in – it's like a protective cap that brings back the tooth's strength and natural function.
A root canal procedure successfully saves an infected tooth; however, there are instances where we might be unable to salvage it. In this case, a tooth extraction will be recommended to ensure optimal health and well-being.
If we determine the tooth is beyond rescue through a root canal procedure, the next best solution involves extracting the tooth coupled with a dental implant and dental crown or bridge. This approach ensures a complete restoration of the tooth's function and appearance.
Dental Implants
Root Canal FAQ
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If you're wondering about the root canal cost, it can differ based on factors like the tooth's location and complexity.
Typically the cost of a single root canal starts from $1200.
At Valley Dental, we believe in clear pricing. To get an accurate estimate tailored to your case, we suggest setting up a consultation with us to discuss the root canal procedure and its associated costs.
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The healing time after a root canal can vary from person to person and is influenced by factors such as the tooth's condition, the length of time it has been infected and your body's response.
At Valley Dental, we do our best to prioritise a pain-free process to ensure minimal recovery time. While you might experience some sensitivity after the anaesthetic wears off, the discomfort typically subsides within a day or two.
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At Valley Dental, we prioritise your comfort throughout the root canal procedure. While there might be some misconceptions about root canals being painful, the truth is that advancements in dentistry have made the process comfortable.
We take measures to ensure you feel minimal pain. We use effective pain relief techniques and a relaxing environment to help ease any anxiety. We aim to make your root canal experience as smooth and pain-free as possible.
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At Valley Dental, we strive to provide high-quality treatments that stand the test of time. It has been shown that root canal treatments have a success rate of 90-95% lasting over 10 years. As this figure is evidence based, you can ensure this figure can be applied to you with routine dental checkups and good oral health.
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If you have a private health fund with major dental cover, they may cover a portion of the root canal treatment costs. For further information or to check if you are covered, please book a consultation or contact our practice.
Find more information regarding the treatment items that may be billed here.
A root canal offers several key benefits. By saving the natural tooth, it maintains the integrity of your smile and prevents the need for extraction. This not only contributes to your oral health but also supports your overall well-being.
Benefits of
A Root Canal
EFFECTIVE PAIN RELIEF
SAVES THE NATURAL TOOTH
IMPROVED DENTAL FUNCTION
“A root canal is a very safe and predictable restorative dental procedure widely embraced for it’s high rates of long-term success.”
- Dr bayer
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Root canal cost
During your root canal treatment, we will bill your private health fund (if applicable) for both the root canal and the subsequent dental crown. Don’t have private health? Valley Dental believes affordable dental care should be accessible to everyone. Book a consultation, and we can check to see if a root canal is suitable for you and discuss the cost.
During your root canal procedure, you will be billed with one or more of these treatment items: 415 root canal prep (one canal), 416 root canal prep (each additional canal), 417 root canal obturation, 418 root canal obturation (each additional canal) and 022 x-rays.
To seal your root canal, we may recommend a dental crown. For this procedure, you will be billed for one or more of the following treatment items: 615, 613, 618 and 627
If a root canal is not deemed suitable, you may require a tooth extraction. For this procedure, you may be billed for one or more of these treatment items: 311 311 simple extractions or 314, 322, and 324 complex extractions.
all major health funds accepted
If your private health fund is not listed above, please contact us prior to your appointment to confirm you are covered.