Are you struggling with pain from a toothache that just isn’t going away? Intense toothache can be a sign of infection or decay within the tooth pulp. In this case, your dentist at Bundoora Family Dental Clinic may recommend an endodontic root canal treatment. This involves removing the damaged tooth pulp (and sometimes the nerve) and sealing it off to prevent future contamination.
Bundoora Family Dental Clinic is a leading root canal dentist in Melbourne’s north east suburbs. Our practice offers highly-trained dentists and state-of-the-art technology to ensure a safe, gentle and effective procedure.
When Should You Seek Root Canal Therapy?
The tooth pulp is the soft tissue in the centre of a tooth that contains the nerve, blood vessels and connective tissue. When it decays or becomes infected, the resulting inflammation can cause severe pain that requires an immediate dental root canal treatment.
Aside from an intense toothache, symptoms of a tooth pulp infection can include:
- Increased tooth sensitivity
- Tenderness or swelling of the gums near the tooth
- Darkening of the tooth
- Blood or pus near the tooth
- A small bump on the gums near the tooth
If you notice one or more of these symptoms, it’s important to arrange an appointment with your dentist as soon as possible. They’ll be able to identify the cause and determine if root canal treatment may be necessary.
Root Canal vs. Tooth Extraction
In many cases, a root canal is required in order to save a tooth. Once a tooth has become infected to a certain extent, it must either be removed completely (extracted) or the pulp material from within must be taken out with a root canal treatment. While extraction may seem like the lowest-cost and easiest option up front, it does come with some downsides. If you opt for extraction, it’s recommended to replace the extracted tooth with a dental implant or other replacement option, which can be costly. If a replacement tooth isn’t placed, your other teeth could shift to fill in the gap, causing problems with your bite. Bone loss in the jaw can also occur when lost teeth aren’t replaced. For these reasons, it’s always preferable to save your natural teeth where possible, making root canal treatment a superior option to tooth extraction.
What Does the Procedure Involve?
The root canal therapy procedure usually takes place over two or more visits and involves a number of steps. These include:
- X-rays – Our dentist will take x-rays to determine the extent of damage to a tooth and identify whether root canal treatment is appropriate.
- Administration of local anaesthetic – Our dentist will inject local anaesthetic to ensure you remain comfortable during the procedure.
- Removal of pump – Your root canal dentist will remove the damaged and infected pulp.
- Cleaning – The tooth and its canal is thoroughly cleaned to remove all traces of infection.
- Filling and sealing – The root canal is filled and sealed to protect against future contamination and pain
- Crown placement – Following the dental root canal treatment, a crown may be placed over the treated tooth for optimal protection.
Does Root Canal Treatment Hurt?
No, getting a root canal treatment should not cause pain. Your dentist will inject a local anaesthetic into the area being worked on to ensure you’ll be numb for the procedure. If at any time you feel any pain, let your dentist or dental assistant know as soon as possible.
Make an Appointment for Root Canal Treatment Today
Our Melbourne root canal dentists can assist patients from across the north east suburbs, including Bundoora, Greensborough, Watsonia, Rosanna, Mill Park, Heidelberg, Ivanhoe, Macleod, Reservoir, Lalor, Mernda and South Morang. To make an appointment, please complete our online booking form or give us a call on (03) 8560 1697.
Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner