By Dr. Abhi Singh Do you have frequent toothaches or a huge cavity that can’t be treated with a filling or cap anymore? If so, you need to visit a dentist as soon as possible for an emergency appointment. Immediate action through a root canal treatment can still save the affected tooth.
Root canal treatment is a procedure that can be done to save your tooth from extraction. It can be done on teeth that have been severely decayed or damaged by trauma, but are still salvageable. Here, we will discuss root canal therapy and what to expect during your first appointment with our dentists in Western Australia.
The dental pulp is located in the tooth’s root canal system, which extends from the lower portion of the crown (top of the tooth) to the end of the root (bottom of the tooth). Infection of the dental pulp is irreversible and may require endodontic therapy, sometimes known as a ‘root canal,‘ which is the removal of the diseased or inflamed pulp.
Root canal therapy is practically painless, causes less discomfort throughout the recovery period, and is a better option than having your natural tooth removed. Thanks to advanced technology and efficient anesthesia, patients who undergo root canals are more likely to describe the procedure as painless than patients who have had a tooth pulled.
The infected pulp is removed during a root canal treatment. The inside of the tooth is thoroughly cleaned and disinfected before being filled and sealed with gutta-percha, a rubber-like material. Following that, the tooth is protected with a crown or filling to ensure its function and aesthetic.
There are various medical reasons why root canal treatment is required, but there are also several practical reasons why preserving the original tooth is a wise choice. Endodontic therapy allows you to keep your natural smile, consume the foods you enjoy, and minimise the need for further dental work. With proper care, most root canal treated teeth can last a lifetime.
One of the most significant benefits of root canal therapy is the elimination of discomfort and infection in the mouth. The root canal therapy alleviates pressure from the inflammation of the pulp infection, and you can feel it lightly following a day or two of the therapy.
In some cases, tooth extraction may seem like a cost-effective option. Still, tooth extraction usually requires more follow-up appointments than endodontic treatment. Patients are typically required to receive a denture, dental bridge, or implant, which can be more expensive and time consuming. Furthermore, many dental insurance policies include root canal treatments. Affordability and convenience of treatment are some of the advantages of having a root canal rather than having a tooth extracted.
Another factor that most dental professionals consider is the prevention of infection spreading to the adjacent teeth. Once the bacteria has been removed, the tooth will be cleaned and disinfected, which will eliminate the root cause of the toothache or decay.
Infected teeth may turn yellowish, brown, or even black due to infection buildup in the pulp of the tooth. Teeth whitening will not help with this discolouration. On the other hand, you can conceal the discoloration with aesthetically pleasing crowns.
Dental crowns not only work as well as your real teeth, but they also look great. Root canal therapy can get your smile back and allow you to laugh again without worrying about missing a tooth or going through a more invasive procedure.
Endodontic therapy is the primary choice for the best health and aesthetic benefits of teeth with infected pulp. Our endodontists can save your teeth. They will assess the condition of your teeth and provide the best treatment approach to keep them. However, it would be best to know the reasons for considering the treatment. We often recommend a root canal to prevent serious complications or further oral problems.
Furthermore, even if a tooth has no obvious chips or cracks, an injury to the tooth might cause extensive pulp damage. Untreated pulp inflammation or infection can lead to severe pain and, worse, a dental abscess.
Modern technology helps the field of dentistry perform complex procedures before becoming less invasive. Today, root canal therapy has become a simple procedure that aids in the relief of any discomfort caused by tooth decay, tooth sensitivity, sore teeth, and severe tooth pain.
Prospect Road Dental dentists may perform the following process during your root canal therapy. This may still vary depending on your dental condition:
- Your dentist will take x-rays of the tooth and the surrounding area.
- A local anaesthetic is typically used to numb the tooth area.
- Your tooth may then be covered with a rubber sheet (rubber dam), which separates the tooth being treated from the rest of your mouth, keeping the area clean.
- The dental professional will access the pulp chamber through the crown of the tooth. Then, they will extract or remove all the inflamed pulp, dead tissue debris, and infection inside the tooth.
- When the root canals have been thoroughly cleaned, they are then filled with sealers to block any access for bacteria.
- A dental filling or a crown is used to seal the tooth. A crown completely covers the surface of your natural tooth.
- You may expect to spend a couple of hours in our clinic for your root canal therapy to be completed.
In general, root canal therapy and natural tooth restoration are less expensive than tooth extraction.A dental implant or bridge must replace an extracted tooth to restore chewing function and prevent neighbouring teeth from moving. These procedures are typically more expensive than endodontic therapy, including dental restoration.
The cost varies depending on the severity and which tooth is affected. Back teeth, or molars, are more difficult to treat. Thus, the treatment can be more costly. Fortunately, endodontic treatment is usually covered by most dental insurance policies.
According to the Australian Dental Survey fee, a root canal can cost up to $986.97 in Western Australia. This includes an oral examination, a dental x-ray, pulp extraction, and chemo-mechanical preparation.Overall, this may still depend on your case. For the most accurate estimation of the cost, we’d love to discuss the entire process and the total expense with you.
Several alternative options are available for root canals. These may include, but may not be limited to, the following:
Direct pulp capping
Direct pulp capping is a dental treatment that can treat significant damage or decay that exposes the dental pulp, but has not severely infected it. Sometimes, dentists may recommend pulp capping to avoid the need for root canals and tooth removal in the future.
Pulpotomy
It is a process that removes part of the tooth pulp. In the same way as direct pulp capping, it is used when the pulp is exposed because of tooth decay or damage.
Tooth extraction
This procedure is known as “having the infected tooth completely pulled out of the socket.” Extraction is the least recommended option and should only be done when the tooth cannot be saved and restored.
Dental professionals are more likely to aim to preserve the natural teeth as much as possible. With the advantage of modern techniques, root canal treatment has been a standard procedure to treat a tooth with dead pulp and save your natural tooth with a good success rate.
Diseased tooth pulp requires correct treatment. If left untreated, the tooth is at high risk of various oral problems that may require a more complex procedure or tooth removal that can be expensive in the long run.
Prospect Road Dental provides quality dental care in Armadale and the nearby areas. Our goal is to improve our patients’ lives by helping them achieve optimum oral health.
If you have any questions about the process or would like to schedule an appointment, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us today at (08) 93399 2037!
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