End your discomfort. The Good Dentist provides superior root canal treatment.
At The Good Dentist, Newcastle, our priority is to keep your own teeth at their absolute optimum, however, we understand serious problems can occur that require intervention.
Root canal treatment allows us to save infected or heavily decayed teeth, which would otherwise need a tooth extraction. There is nothing better than your own teeth for prolonged oral health and jaw alignment, which is why we place such emphasis on saving and restoring them.
Do I Need Root Canal Treatment?
It can be difficult to self-diagnose whether you need root canal therapy, however, if you are experiencing any of the following symptoms, we suggest you contact your dentist.
- Pain when biting or chewing
- Swelling or tender gums surrounding the tooth
- Discolouration of the tooth
- Persistent sensitivity to hot and cold temperatures
- Localised throbbing in and around the tooth
The 3 Stages of Root Canal Treatment
Root canal is a targeted treatment used to remove infection or decay from inside the root of a tooth. The damaged part of the tooth is removed and a filling is placed in the root canal to seal it.
The three stages of root canal treatment include:
1. Extirpation
Extirpation involves removing all diseased or dead tissue from inside the tooth.
Your dentist will make a small opening in the tooth and remove any infected nerve tissue, called pulp, from inside the tooth using special instruments designed for this purpose. The instrumentation stage lasts approximately 30 minutes per tooth depending on the size and complexity. This step is necessary because bacteria can remain even after all visible signs of infection are removed from within the tooth structure.
2. Instrumentation
Instrumentation involves thoroughly cleaning out any remaining debris and bacteria from the root canal system.
The inside of your tooth is thoroughly cleaned and shaped so that it can be filled with a permanent filling material (obturation.) Any temporary filling is removed, and the canal is flushed with an antibacterial rinse.
At The Good Dentist, we only use rotary nickel-titanium files on an electronic appliance to give you the best root canal possible. This process allows us to shape the canal to make the tooth suitable for the custom-fitted root filling material (called Gutta Percha.)
3. Obturation
The final stage of root canal treatment is obturation, which is the process of filling in the empty space left behind after instrumentation. A filling material such as gutta percha (a rubber-like substance) and composite resin (plastic) is used to pack the canal. The tooth is then covered with a permanent filling or a dental crown to give maximum strength.
Duration Of Root Canal Treatment
Root canal therapy typically requires two visits, however, more visits may be required depending on the individual patient’s needs. The Good Dentist will assess your needs and advise accordingly, so we have your consent to continue. At this stage, we can advise of the root canal cost.
In certain circumstances where there may be a complex canal shape or difficulty in accessing the canals due to the age or condition of the tooth, we will refer you to our local specialist. With their report, an informed decision can be made on the long-term outcome for the tooth or teeth involved.
Root Canal Aftercare
Expect healing to take approximately one week and if you feel persistent discomfort or bleeding contact your dentist.
Remember, when the nerve of the tooth has been damaged you will need to have frequent checkups, to monitor the progress of the tooth or teeth.
The Good Dentist is an Expert in Root Canal
Don’t prolong the pain, our expert dental team can have you smiling again in no time.
Feel free to call The Good Dentist on 02 4929 6007 to inquire about root canal treatment at our local Newcastle dental clinic. Or you can conveniently book an online appointment today.