Root Canal Treatment Kensington
Looking after the health of the soft tissues inside your teeth.
Endodontics is a specialist type of dentistry that focuses on the soft pulp in the roots of your teeth.
They’re not as scary as they sound. Advances in technology and equipment have made root canals easier, quicker and often nearly a pain – free procedure. Root canal therapy might be the best alternative option to getting a tooth pulled out.
The whole tooth will be cleaned and filled thoroughly, after which, a crown is then highly recommended to help create a better long-term success of the tooth.
What is endodontics?
Endodontic treatment focuses on the inner part of the tooth, where the pulp, nerves, and root canals sit. Most of the time, you will never notice this area. When the inner tissue becomes inflamed, infected, or damaged, though, it can lead to pain and put the tooth at risk.
This problem is often known as pulpitis. In some cases, the inflammation is mild and settles with the right care. In more advanced cases, the damage is permanent. When this happens, the tooth often becomes highly sensitive, painful, or difficult to bite on, and treatment is usually needed as soon as possible.
Deep decay is one of the most common causes, especially when a cavity reaches the nerve of the tooth. Cracks, fractures, and dental trauma can also injure the pulp and lead to ongoing pain or infection.
When the inner part of the tooth cannot heal on its own, root canal treatment is often the best way to remove the infection, ease discomfort, and keep the natural tooth in place. At Tooth Heaven, the focus is on making the process clear, gentle, and as comfortable as possible while protecting your long-term oral health.
What is a root canal?
A root canal is a dental procedure designed to treat and save a tooth with damaged soft tissue inside. This inner tissue, called the dental pulp, consists of nerves, blood vessels, and connective tissue, all of which are vital for a tooth's development.
Several issues can lead to pulp damage, including deep decay, repeated dental procedures, a faulty crown, or a crack or chip in the tooth. When the pulp becomes inflamed or infected, it can cause severe pain or lead to an abscess, signalling to the patient that dental attention is needed.
During the treatment, the inflamed or infected pulp is carefully removed. Once the inside of the tooth is thoroughly cleaned and disinfected, it is filled and sealed with a rubber-like material called gutta-percha. While the pulp is essential during a tooth's growth phase, a fully mature tooth can survive without it. The filling helps to maintain the tooth's structure and function, preserving your natural smile.
What is an Endodontist?
An Endodontist is a dentist with advanced training in treating the soft tissues inside teeth. Most of their work involves root canals –removing infected or dead pulp and sealing the tooth with a permanent filler.
While general dentists may perform some root canals, Endodontists handle complex or challenging cases and focus almost exclusively on this treatment. In most situations, you’ll need a referral from your dentist to see an Endodontist.
What are the advantages of receiving endodontic treatment?
There are multiple key benefits to receiving endodontic treatment such as a root canal:
Remove the source of pain: When the pulp in your tooth becomes infected, it can be extremely painful. Having a root canal treatment removes the source of that pain.
Save your natural tooth: Without a root canal, the infection in the soft tissue in your tooth can get worse, and you could lose your natural tooth.
Avoid more invasive treatments: Despite its bad reputation, a root canal is akin to a large filling. However, without one, you may end up needing a dental implant or other tooth replacement procedure, which is more invasive than a simple root canal.
Restore normal function: A successful root canal lets you bite, chew, and smile with confidence again, without the pain or sensitivity of an infected tooth.
If your tooth is causing you pain, it’s important to have it checked by a dentist and determine the ‘root’ of the issue so you can fix it, maintain the health of your teeth, and get back to living life to its fullest.
Symptoms of an infected, inflamed or dead dental pulp
You may require endodontic treatment if you notice any of the following symptoms:
- Pain or pressure around a particular tooth
- Sudden increase in tooth sensitivity
- Swollen, tender gums around the affected tooth
- Discolouration around an affected tooth
- Build up of pus around the affected tooth
- Facial swelling
Following an initial consultation and X-rays, DentArana will advise you as to whether root canal treatment will be necessary. In some cases, it may be possible to preserve part of the dental pulp. If disease has already begun to spread, it may need to be removed entirely.
Frequently asked questions
A root canal treatment in Australia depends on a number of factors, such as how many canals the tooth has (one canal makes for a simpler and faster procedure than a tooth with four canals), and whether you need additional appointments or sedation.
You may also need to factor in the cost of getting a dental crown, as this is an important follow-up to most root canals and can add an additional cost.
If you need financial assistance for your treatment, we offer an exclusive interest-free payment plan called SmileFund. With SmileFund, you can undergo your dental treatment and pay it off over time.
Many people are under the impression that root canal treatment is painful, however having an infected or decayed tooth is much more painful than the treatment itself. Root canals are carried out under anaesthesia, and our experienced team strive to make the process as quick and pain-free as possible. Many patients feel no pain at all and are glad to be relieved of the pain and discomfort after receiving treatment.
A dentist and an Endodontist have the same basic training and skills, but an Endodontist specialises in treatment of the soft tissues in the teeth. That’s why an Endodontist will often perform complicated root canal procedures or other treatments that involve the soft tissue in the tooth.
The most common procedure that an Endodontist performs is a root canal, but they can also fix cracked teeth, place dental implants, do root canal re-treatments, root end surgeries, and anything else relating to the soft tissue inside your tooth.
Sometimes, your dentist may not have the additional training or knowledge they would need in order to perform a treatment. This is most often the case for complicated root canal treatments, but your dentist may also send you to an Endodontist for other procedures, such as fixing an old root canal or placing a dental implant.
Schedule your appointment today
Don't let severe tooth pain lead to tooth loss.
With gentle root canal treatment at Tooth Heaven, let us help you save your tooth and bring back your healthy smile. Schedule your appointment with us today to find relief and peace of mind