Wondering ‘what is root canal treatment’? You’re not alone. Root canal therapy (or root canal treatment) is an effective way to clean and repair your tooth when the damage has reached inside the tooth. This is important to stop the infection from spreading further and save your tooth, preventing the need for dental implants.

If the hard outer shell of your tooth (the enamel) is damaged badly enough through decay or cracks, bacteria can get inside your tooth and cause an infection. This can then spread inside of your tooth pulp to the root. Usually, when this happens, you will experience some pain. Luckily, it can be easily and effectively resolved with root canal treatment to save your tooth.

While tooth pain can be a sign you need root canal therapy, you may not notice other signs of the infection before pain sets in. A regular check-up and clean can help as your dentist can quickly identify any early signs of decay, preventing further damage to your tooth by treating the problem sooner.

Root canal treatment happens in a few stages and will need multiple appointments.

In your first appointment, your dentist will use local anaesthetic to numb your tooth and the surrounding area. A microscope and state-of-the-art dental equipment are used to clean out and remove the infected part inside the tooth. Some medication will be placed inside your tooth to treat the infection. A temporary filling will be placed to protect your tooth until your next appointment.
At your next appointment, the space will be filled and sealed with a permanent filling, so that the tooth cannot get infected again. Sometimes, a dental crown will be needed to strengthen the tooth and give you use of your tooth for as long as possible.

Your tooth will look exactly like the rest of your smile, and be protected from infections.

Root canal treatment in Dentist Miranda, at Shire Smiles, is usually completed over a period of 6 to 8 weeks. In some more complex cases, the dental root canal procedure can take up to six months to complete.

While those three little words, ‘root canal therapy’ can make some people feel nervous, treatment is generally no more painful than a filling. Your dentist will use a local anaesthetic to numb the area so that you’ll barely feel a thing. Most people feel relieved as root canal treatment helps to get rid of the pain from your infected tooth

You may experience some mild tooth pain or sensitivity afterwards, which can easily be managed by over-the-counter pain medication.

Root canal therapy costs depend on which type of tooth is infected, as some teeth have more roots than others. For example, a single root tooth costs $1,200 and a molar up to $2,000.

Yes, if you are covered for major or complex dental work, you will receive some cover for your root canal treatment.