Root Canal Treatment

Root Canal Treatment Melbourne

The process of saving a severely infected tooth by cleaning and repairing it is referred to as root canal treatment. The process comprises a sequence of steps where the infected pulp of the tooth or teeth is treated. Not only does root canal treatment save the tooth but it also protects it from any further tooth or gum infection.

Root canal treatment is an effective way to save your teeth and the effects of the treatment last for a long time if the patient takes good care of their oral health.

If you want to treat your oral infection by retaining your original teeth then you can get in touch with your gentle and caring dentists at Blackburn, Melbourne. Our dentists will guide you through the process of root canal treatment during the complimentary consultation session before you undergo the treatment at our clinic.

A Tooth’s Structure

To understand more about root canal treatment you must understand where and how the infection arises. For this you must know the structure of a tooth:
The tooth has different layers and they are categorized into the root and the crown. The root is invisible and it holds the visible part of your tooth firmly on the gums. The crown is the upper visible part of the tooth and sits on the gum line.

Tooth Enamel

The enamel is the visible outermost surface covering the dental crown. Its colours may vary from being light yellow to bluish-white or grey. It is the body’s hardest tissue and the second hardest substance in the world after diamond. It contains a very high percentage of minerals.

Dentin

Dentin is the largest part of the crown and comprises about 70% inorganic matter and 30% water and organic matter. It comprises a small tube of tissue fluid known as a dentinal tubule. It is a porous and hard layer of tissue (softer than enamel) that sits exactly beneath the enamel. Dentin tissue is usually light yellow and connects the crown and the root.

Cementum

The cementum is a calcified yellowish bone-like thin layer of tissue that covers the roots of the teeth. It keeps the bony walls of the tooth sockets anchored to the root with the periodontal ligament.

Dental Pulp

The nerve present in the toot is known as dental pulp. It contains nerve fibres, blood vessels and lymph vessels and helps in the transportation of nutrients to the dentin.

Periodontal Ligament

A periodontal ligament is a group of connective tissue fibres that connects a tooth to the alveolar bone. It is seated within this connection and inserts itself into the alveolar bone on one side and into root cementum on the other side. It protects the blood vessels and nerves present from getting injured by any physical force.

Alveolar Bone

It is a special part of the maxillary and mandibular bone that provides support to the tooth. The tooth is implanted on this part and is affected by periodontal disease.

Gums

The gums are also known as gingiva. Besides being connected to the alveolar bone the gum is also attached to the cementum of every tooth and the tooth enamel.

What Causes Infection in Dental Pulp

The dental pulp stretches from the pup chamber right to the bottom of the root canal. This is why when an infection starts, the entire area is affected and will have to be treated or disinfected to stop the infection from spreading. The dental pulp is responsible for the growth and development of the teeth during childhood. Once the teeth are completely grown, the tissues surrounding the teeth root provide it with the required nutrition and it no longer requires the pulp to survive. The teeth can easily function with the pulp with proper oral care.

There may be different reasons why an infection may develop in the dental pulp. Here are some of these causes:

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Developing decay under a dental filling

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Tooth decay that has been left untreated

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Tooth trauma caused because of playing certain sports or accidents

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A chipped or cracked tooth that has been left untreated

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Gum disease

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Bruxism which is a condition where adults or children grind their teeth excessively

If you are suffering from any of these above symptoms then you must get in touch with our dentists in Blackburn. We are equipped with the latest technology and our dentists are trained in the latest skills of performing root canal treatment. You can expect complete care while being treated at our clinic, for the process of root canal treatment.

What are the symptoms of tooth pulp damage?

The patient may suffer from one or more symptoms because of the damaged tooth pulp. Here are some apparent symptoms of damage in the tooth pulp:

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Sudden piercing pain on the tooth/teeth

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Bitter taste in the mouth

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Loose tooth

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Bad breath

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Tooth sensitivity

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Difficulty in chewing food or biting

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Dental abscess

If you are suffering from the above symptoms then you must visit our clinic in Melbourne to determine the exact cause of the symptom. A dental X-ray and consultation with our dentist will help in determining the exact cause of the infection and the level of damage present in the tooth or teeth.

The Root Canal Procedure

The root canal treatment is performed to repair and save the tooth. Once the infection is cleaned it strengthens the damaged tooth. If there is a single tooth that requires undergoing the root canal treatment the procedure can be completed in a single day. However, if more teeth have been infected or the level of infection is deep then it may require more than one sitting to complete the process. The basic process is executed in four steps:

Step 1: Clearing the Infection

After our gentle and caring dentists have checked your oral health and have recommended root canal treatment to save your tooth they begin with removing the infected dental pulp. Along with the contaminated pulp other damaged fragments surrounding it are also removed.

Step 2: Shaping and Disinfection of Root Canal

Once the damaged dental pulp is removed the root canal is levelled to make it difficult for the bacteria to hold on. They are smoothened and hollow tunnels are made. The entire area is disinfected several times ensuring there are no bacteria present in them.

Step 3: Filling the Canals

When the root canals are ready after shaping and disinfection these are filled with a dental filling known as gutta-percha. It is a rubber-like substance that functions as a permanent bandage and stops any type of fluid or bacteria from seeping in through the roots.

Step 4: Capping

To fortify a tooth after the root canal treatment a dental crown is used to cap and seal the tooth. This also further prevents it from all types of bacterial attacks. A crown is also important for the good physical appearance of the teeth as a lot of natural teeth are removed during the process of smoothening. Dental crowns are available in different materials like porcelain, zirconia, resin-based materials, silver and even gold. You can choose the material of the crown you would like to have for your teeth.

At Healthy Smiles, Melbourne our compassionate dentists use sleep dentistry before they perform the root canal treatment on the patients. Sleep dentistry helps in easing your anxiety. Patients hardly feel any pain when undergoing the process with sleep dentistry. Root canal treatment is a great way to save your teeth from infection and have that beautiful smile you have always desired. You can rely on our team of gentle dentists who are experienced and skilled at their work to restore your oral health.

You must not delay the root canal treatment if required because the infection spreads quickly and the longer you leave it untreated the more complicated the situation tends to get. You are bound to experience problems like:

Spreading Infection

If your dental pulp is damaged the bacteria continues to spread and the infection reaches the bone.

Tooth Loss

If the infection spreads too much your dentist will be bound to extract the tooth. Even after extraction, the area must be secured with a dental implant else a missing tooth also has several disadvantages.

Bad breath

Dental abscess also causes bad breath because pus is formed in the infected area. You can get rid of this foul smell only if the area is treated.

Bite changes

Damaged dental pulp causes pain and makes the tooth lose this makes it difficult to chew or bite the food.

Cost of getting a root canal treatment in Blackburn, Melbourne

The severity of oral infection may vary for every patient. Therefore it may be difficult to determine the exact cost of the treatment. However, at Healthy Smiles, we offer a complimentary consultation session to our patients before the treatment process where our dentists diagnose the condition of your oral health. Once this is done they will give you a rough estimate for what your treatment may cost. This estimate may vary for every patient depending on the number of root canal treatments required and the severity of the infection.

The estimated cost for root canal treatments can vary between $1,200 to $2,900 over the course of 2-3 appointments.

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Frequently Asked Questions

I am afraid of the pain I would undergo, is root canal treatment a painful process?

At Healthy Smiles, we understand that most patients experience anxiety when visiting their dentist. Yet, oral health is vital and dental treatments should be performed when required. We offer sleep dentistry to patients undergoing treatments. Patients can sleep through the entire process and they hardly feel any pain while the dentist is treating them.

What is the recovery time in the root canal treatment?

It normally takes at least three days for the area to heal completely. Experiencing some pain is normal during this period. Our dentist at Melbourne will ensure that they advise you everything about the post-treatment care you must take at home and prescribe you the required medication. During the recovery period, our dentists advise avoiding all types of vigorous activities.

What is the success rate of root canal treatments?

In a root canal treatment, the infected area is cleaned, disinfected and then sealed. The procedure is performed carefully ensuring the tooth or teeth are completely free from any infection. With proper oral care post-treatment, you will probably never suffer from any problems in the treated area. The success rate of a root canal treatment is usually between 90% and 95%.

Do I need to place a dental crown after the root canal treatment?

A crown provides strength to your teeth because the process of smoothening takes away most of your natural teeth. To remove the infected dental pulp the dentist bores his way through the centre to get to the infected pulp. Therefore it is recommended that you place a crown after the root canal treatment.

Does my tooth that has been treated for root canal become dark in colour?

Tooth or teeth that undergo root canal treatment may over time become yellow or greyish. However, this side effect may or may not be seen in every patient. But, if this does happen we can easily cover it with a porcelain crown or veneer. Another treatment that is recommended for this problem is teeth whitening which will help in improving the appearance of your teeth. You can discuss your darkened teeth with our dentist at Melbourne, he will advise you the best solution for your condition.