Root Canal Treatment

Save your smile with root canal treatment

What Is Root Canal Treatment?
Do I Need A Root Canal?
What Causes An Infected Tooth?
Benefits Of A Root Canal
The Process of Root Canal Therapy (RCT)
Using Fotona LightWalker
Recovering From A Root Canal

Severely infected teeth need immediate attention and professional care or they may need extraction. Root canal treatment may be the only option available to save your natural tooth when suffering from advanced stages of decay. This treatment ensures that any further damage is prevented and the infection is kept under control! Using modern dentistry & technology, such as the Fotona Lightwalker, we can make sure that your treatment is as painless as possible when you come in for a root canal at Studfield Dental Group.

What is root canal treatment?

Each tooth has an inner, soft centre known as a “dental pulp”. The dental pulp is made up of vital tissues and nerves extending deep into the root of your tooth. If damaged or compromised, this can lead to severe pain or infection that can only be treated with root canal therapy.

Also called “endodontic treatment”, root canal therapy is used to help save a tooth with a decayed, damaged or dead pulp by removing the infected pulp, cleaning it out with antibiotics and preventing the infection from spreading.

Teeth with a history of large fillings, significant decay or damage are more at risk of an infection developing. Once the procedure is completed, the tooth is fully functional but far more brittle. This makes it more vulnerable to fractures or breakage, so a dental crown is often placed on top to protect the tooth and provide the best results.

Do I need a root canal treatment?

If you’re wondering whether you need root canal therapy or not, you’ll have to consider a few things when it comes to your oral health and the general condition of your teeth:

Discomfort in and around the problematic tooth and gums
Pain when biting down
Pus around the tooth & pimples forming around gumlines
Increased or prolonged sensitivity to hot and cold temperatures
Swelling of the gums, face
Fever
Severe pain that doesn’t go away with pain medication
A chipped tooth that’s prone to infection

Also, if you’ve had regular cases of infection, trauma, or restorative dental procedures and are experiencing any of the above symptoms, we recommend to schedule a consultation with our dentist without delay.

What causes an infected tooth?

The following is a list of what may count as an infected tooth. You’re at risk of needing root canal therapy (RCT) if you have or show any of these signs:

Gum disease
Severe tooth decay
An abscessed tooth
Old restorative dental work
Dental trauma
Bruxism (Teeth grinding)
Discolouration of teeth

Benefits of a root canal

Despite how complex the general outlook may seem, RCT is a simple and painless procedure that will offer you many benefits:

Comparatively pain-free process with little discomfort
Relieves severe pain caused by infected or inflamed dental pulp.
Quick & more cost-effective than tooth extraction
Long-lasting results with proper maintenance
No changes to surrounding teeth
Restores normal biting and chewing function.
Prevents the spread of infection to surrounding tissues.
Maintains the appearance of your smile.
Ability to keep your natural tooth intact.
Minimal recovery time.
Boosts oral and overall health.

Keeping your natural tooth functioning is in itself a remarkable advantage. Your natural tooth doesn’t just feel better than a prosthetic tooth, it also functions better. Any future dental costs and procedures will also be limited.

If you need RCT, don’t put it off! When left untreated, your infection can cause severe pain and nerve damage, eventually leading to tooth loss.

Save your natural tooth with a root canal

Book Now

The Process of Root Canal Therapy (RCT) in Wantirna

During your initial consultation, a thorough evaluation of your affected tooth will be conducted, with necessary x-rays to identify the extent of the infection.
Your root canal will begin with the area around your tooth being numbed with local anaesthetic. The affected tooth will be isolated from the rest using a rubber dam.
The infected pulp will be removed, cleaned and the tooth will be sealed again with a temporary filling. This will be replaced with a permanent one once the root canal has healed.
A crown may be placed on top, if necessary, to strengthen your tooth.

Using Fotona LightWalker

At Studfield Dental Group, we offer the latest in modern dentistry to give you the best experience and results. Fotona laser treatments combined with traditional root canal techniques help eliminate bacteria effectively and easily, while completely removing any infected dental pulp. Laser RCT is a more conservative and comprehensive method of decontaminating the pulp chamber compared to manual bio-debridement of the chamber.

Cost of a Root Canal Treatment in Wantirna

Root canal treatment cost varies depending on the complexity of your case and your unique condition. It’s best to consult with one of our experienced dentists to get an accurate estimate of the cost of treatment. However, it’s also worth noting that delaying treatment can make the condition worse, leading to more extensive and expensive procedures in the future.

Investing in your dental health now can save you from more costly treatments and help preserve your natural teeth.

Recovering from a root canal

Recovery time may vary from individual, to individual but on average, it takes a few days to heal. In the meantime, there are certain steps you can take to make sure your recovery goes smoothly.

Rinse your mouth out gently with warm, salt water.
Stick to drinking cold water to help soothe any irritation.
Eat soft foods that are easier to chew.
Avoid spicy foods as these may irritate your teeth.
Use antibiotics and inflammatory medication prescribed by your clinician.

You may experience slight inflammation, but don’t hesitate to reach out to our practice if you have any worries or clarifications. With our dental professionals at Studfield Dental Group, you will be in the safest hands possible.