Do You Have Toothache?
Root canals save teeth that will otherwise require extraction. We use the latest technology for gentle root canal treatments.
If your tooth nerve or pulp is irreversibly infected, then we recommend a root canal treatment (also called endodontic treatment) in order to save your natural tooth.
Using the latest dental technology, your dentist in Brisbane, QLD can now complete your root canal treatment comfortably and in much less time (sometimes just one visit) than was previously possible.
Alternatively, visit our patient resource centre for more handy dental resources.
When is Root Canal Treatment Needed
A root canal is one of the treatments we offer to try to save your teeth. An infected tooth pulp means your tooth is dying. Root canal treatment is necessary to save your tooth so that you can continue to use it in the future. Saving your tooth for future use is better and less costly than losing the tooth and having to use dentures, bridges or dental implants.
Some causes of tooth nerve infection include:
- A deep cavity
- A dental trauma such as a knock or fall
- The breakdown of an old filling or crown
- A crack or chip in the tooth
- Extreme wear
- Extensive dental work in the past
Signs of Needing a Root Canal
We will be able to confirm at an appointment whether your situation requires a root canal, but our Brisbane dental patients usually experience some of the following symptoms:
- Pain can range from a dull ache all the way to severe and agonising dental pain. Some peoples infection will become very painful in a short period of time. Tooth pain, whether small or large, is an indication you need to visit the dentist as soon as you possibly can.
- Tooth sensitivity to hot or cold temperatures or food and drink.
- Gum swelling or soreness.
If your tooth pulp cannot repair itself, it will initially become inflamed. If not treated, it will die and then become infected. Early treatment can make a big difference to the outcome, what we are able to save, reducing the risk of abscess and also to how much pain you have to endure.
Many people associate root canal treatment with pain, but it is actually the best way to get rid of tooth pain. After we diagnose the problem, we will immediately clean out the infected pulp and treat with antibiotics. This step alone can relieve most patients of a great deal of pain.
The Cost of Root Canal Treatment in Australia
Root canal treatment is a complex procedure and cost will vary depending on the type of tooth and difficulty of the treatment. In general, the back teeth (molars) are more difficult to treat than front teeth.
Although the tooth extraction procedure is less expensive than a root canal, the gap left from removal of the infected tooth will need to be filled by a dental implant or a dental bridge, and these are more expensive than saving a tooth in the long term. If a gap is left unattended, this can lead to shifting of the surrounding teeth, poor bite and decreased chewing efficiency.
Root canal treatment is usually less costly than extracting a tooth and replacing it with an artificial one.
No matter how good an artificial tooth can be, it will never be more than just a substitute for a real tooth. Preservation of your original teeth is always the best option.
