A root canal treatment will be effective for a lifetime - it preserves the tooth and helps the jawline remain intact.
Crown requirement (whether or not the crown is needed).
Number of canals to be filled.
Complexity of case.
Additional expenses include:
Service | Cost |
|---|---|
X-Ray | $40 to $50 |
Chemo-mechanical preparation | $250 to $300 |
Expiration of pulp | $200 to $300 |
Obturation | $200 to $350 |
Adhesive | $150 to $200 |
Consultation with an endodontist | $100 to $200 |
Root canal therapy | $1,700 to $3,400 |
Tooth filling after the treatment | $200 to $550 |
Location | Average cost |
|---|---|
New South Wales | $1,025 |
Victoria | $1,044 |
Queensland | $1,026 |
South Australia | $998 |
Tasmania | $1,092 |
Northern Territory | $1,055 |
Australian Capital Territory | $1,128 |
Western Australia | $987 |
If the internal tooth nerve is infected, decayed or damaged, it will cause severe pain while eating or drinking anything hot or cold. In the case of swollen gums, root canal treatment is the best treatment. To avoid losing the infected tooth, don't put it off. It is impossible to leave the infected tooth mash set up and expect the situation to improve. Untreated dental decay will invite additional tooth issues. The benefits of a root canal are:
Good bone and gum support around the damaged tooth.
No more pain, inflammation and infection. You can eat and drink normally.
Treatment is affordable.
No chance of tooth misalignment.
A root canal treatment will be effective for a lifetime. No issues should be expected if an excellent oral hygiene routine is maintained. Infection causing bacteria will be eradicated, eliminating the chances of further spreading of infection in the future. Root canal treatment preserves the tooth, helping the jawline remain intact. A missing tooth will create trouble with the jawline.
A root canal treatment (otherwise known as endodontic treatment) helps repair internal parts of the affected tooth. In the beginning, the dentist takes an x-ray to analyse the current state of root channels, tooth infection and determine the source of contamination in the bone around the tooth. A sheet or elastic called an “elastic dam” is set over the tooth. You will still be able to inhale normally. The dental specialist will numb the region around the tooth with a sedative before drilling an opening in the tooth to remove the pulp. Depending on the tooth, it will have 1- 4 canals. The dentist will clean, shape, and sanitise each canal. Dentists use drillers (designed specifically for dental treatment) to make an opening in the tooth and remove the delicate pulp, known as the dental pulp. The dental mash comprises connective tissue, nerves and blood supply, reaching the tooth’s root. After taking out the mash, the cavity is filled and fixed. The dentist needs to make necessary arrangements to clean and shape the opening inside the tooth before setting a sterile filling inside. With the help of medicines, they will seal the tooth with a minor filling. The dentist might need a metal band to fasten the tooth. Once the treatment finishes, the dentist will fill the canal cavity with “gutta percha”. They may put a minor supporting stick-like structure into the root canal (if required) to give strength to the tooth. An artificial cap may be placed on top of the tooth if necessary. An appropriately qualified health practitioner such as a dental specialist or an expert endodontist can perform root canal treatment.
Ideally, it requires 1-4 appointments to treat the root canal. If front teeth need treatment, it will take one appointment due to less area to be treated. Molar teeth require 2-3 appointments since more area needs to be treated. If the root canal therapy is covered in two appointments, the first one includes shaping and cleaning the tooth's internal tissues. This process comprises drilling the tooth, filling it, and rinsing. The second appointment is aimed to treat the exterior, including filling and sealing the cavity. To avoid bacteria from flourishing in the tooth during the treatment, the dentist will use medications between the two appointments for the root canal procedures. The infection and medication decide the time between each appointment, which is expected to be 1-3 weeks. One appointment demands 30-60 minutes under normal circumstances that can reach up to 2 hours in case of complications. Incisors, canines and premolars (in some cases) have a single root, which settles the treatment time to a single appointment. Therefore, the expected root canal treatments time will be at most 2 hours. Molars have up to 3 roots, demanding 2-3 appointments, hence taking the treatment time to a few months. Moreover, precautions after the treatment last several months to eliminate the chances of re-infection. The dentist may suggest an occasional visit for examination.
Root canal therapy can be painful, but dentists give anaesthesia to kill the pain. People have reported sensitivity after undergoing root canal procedure. Under normal scenarios, the pain is expected to last a few days. If the pain is not relieved in the treated tooth and the patient experiences an increase in pain and discomfort following the treatment, immediate medical attention is necessary. The procedure aims to treat the infected or dead pulp (otherwise called diseased tissue). It does not bother the healthy parts of the tooth. Drill touching the nerves or healthy part of the tooth will trigger immense pain. However, anaesthesia will help reduce it.
Patients can feel discomfort and normal pain arising due to the following.
Swollen or inflamed tissues surrounding the gum can trigger pain in the nerve endings. It will feel like pinched needles in the tooth root. Eating extremely hot or cold things can further increase the pain.
As stated previously, instruments touching the healthy part of the teeth will cause minor damage, resulting in immediate pain.
Sometimes the dentist fills the tooth unevenly, causing a slightly increased height than the surrounding teeth. As a result, biting the food will cause a sore and immediate pain in the tooth and nearby gums. Either the extra uneven filling will fall off with time or can be corrected during another appointment with the dentist.