Melbourne’s Leading Root Canal Treatment Clinic
A Root Canal or Endodontic Treatment is a procedure designed to save a tooth where the nerve or ‘pulp’ inside has died or is severely infected, preventing the need for a tooth extraction and allowing you to keep the original tooth.
Your root canal treatment may take a few appointments to complete, but in this instance, it pays to be patient and have the procedure completed to a high standard. When a tooth completes a root canal treatment it runs a higher risk of fracture, and it’s likely your dentist will recommend a crown to cap and strengthen the tooth.
What Is a Root Canal Treatment?
The root canal of a tooth is located in the center of your tooth that runs into your gums and jawbone and houses the nerve, otherwise known as the pulp. The root canal is protected by the hard exterior of the tooth typically called the crown.
Root canal treatment requires gaining access to the root canal and removing the dead or infected pulp. We then blend a special antibacterial filling to fill the affected canal which helps alleviate any pain and discomfort, and removes the infection in the tooth, preparing it for the next stage of treatment.
The final stage involves the removal of the antibacterial filling and final preparation, before filling the canal with final rubber-based material which minimises the risk of bacteria getting into the canal again. The last step is fitting the tooth with a crown, sealing the tooth and adding strength to minimise the chance of the tooth fracturing in the future.
Isn’t a Root Canal Painful?
There is an age-old belief that a root canal is a painful treatment you would wish to avoid. But, the reality is, with modern treatments and pain relief, the procedure now is little different from having a cavity filled. Pain is often associated with a root canal because it is pain that drives patients to the dentist to receive one.
A damaged, inflamed, or infected root canal is painful beyond words, and patients often arrive at James Peter Dentist already in excruciating pain. Our primary focus is to relieve the patient’s pain and inflammation as quickly as possible, thereby preventing further damage to the tooth.
The aim of a root canal is to save the tooth in question from extraction and return the tooth back to its rightful function. We take your pain and discomfort very seriously and we are committed to a pain-free dentistry model.
When to Seek Treatment for Root Canal Therapy?
While root canal treatments are typically associated with a painful toothache from infection or a cracked tooth, there are a number of reasons your dentist may recommend root canal therapy to save your tooth.
If you are experiencing any of the following symptoms, you may wish to see your dentist and have an X-ray to determine if your tooth requires a root canal treatment.
- Experience pain when biting or chewing
- When your gums are swollen around a tooth or you experience blisters or pimples on your gums
- If a tooth is more sensitive to heat and cold
- You experience discolouration in a tooth
- General toothache
While you will not require root canal therapy in all cases, teeth that require a root canal need immediate attention or you run the risk of losing your tooth.
If you are suffering any of the symptoms above, get in touch with James Peter Dentist and let us get you back to your best!