Root Canal Treatment
Our highly skilled endodontists collectively have close to 200 years of specialist experience performing root canal treatment, so rest assured that you are in the very best of hands with our team in Brisbane, on the Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast.
Our video below features Endodontist Dr John McNamara providing an introduction to root canal treatment or you can read more detail below.
Endodontic procedures (commonly referred to as root canal treatment or root canal therapy) are comfortable procedures designed to relieve pain and save your tooth, as there is no real substitute for your own tooth - it is far more efficient at chewing and biting than an artificial tooth.
When bacteria enter the pulp through cracks, decay or following a bump or knock to the tooth, the pulp becomes inflamed and the tooth and surrounding area will become sore. You can read more about dental pulp in our FAQs.
Common symptoms that may indicate the need for root canal treatment are increased sensitivity to temperature (hot and cold), spontaneous aching, pain with biting, or pressure and swelling. There is little or no discomfort during treatment due to the use of local anaesthetic.
What’s involved in a root canal procedure?
During the endodontic treatment your tooth will be isolated and protected with a sheet of rubber. This ‘rubber dam’ isolates the tooth, so only the tooth can be seen during the treatment. This prevents debris from within the tooth entering the mouth, or saliva and bacteria from the mouth entering the tooth during the treatment process.
Root canal treatment involves several stages, including removing inflamed or infected dental pulp from inside the tooth before cleaning and sealing the canals to prevent reinfection.
If more than one appointment is required to complete treatment, an anti-bacterial dressing and temporary fillings will be placed inside your tooth between each visit to help settle the surrounding tissues and destroy the remaining bacteria. In between visits, you can use your tooth for chewing, but some care should be taken.
The four stages of root canal therapy
Stage 1:
Any decay is removed and the root canals are located, allowing for endodontic treatment to commence.
Stage 2:
During endodontic treatment, the infected or damaged pulp is removed from the inside of the tooth via a small access hole.
Stage 3:
The root canals are then cleaned, disinfected and shaped to a form that can be sealed.
Stage 4:
The next stage is to seal (fill) the root canals with a filling material to prevent re-infection.
You can take a closer look at this process in the infographic below. You’ll also find more information about root canal treatment in our FAQs, including a breakdown of root canal treatment pricing.
Why choose us?
By choosing to have treatment at one of our convenient locations, you will benefit from being treated by our highly-skilled and experienced endodontic specialists, our advanced technology, our compassionate approach to treatment, and our commitment to providing the best possible outcome for you and your tooth.
If you have any questions or would like to schedule an appointment, contact our friendly team or request an appointment online.
