Root Canal Treatment.
When a tooth is badly infected, root canal treatment relieves the pain and saves it, so you can keep your natural smile intact.
- Category
- Restorative
- With
- Our dentists
- Approach
- Tooth-saving
Understanding root canal treatment.
Deep inside each tooth is a soft core called the pulp, made up of nerves and blood vessels.
When decay, a crack or injury lets bacteria reach the pulp, it becomes infected or inflamed, often causing throbbing pain, sensitivity to heat or a swollen gum. Root canal treatment clears out that infection and settles the tooth down.
During treatment we remove the damaged pulp, carefully clean and disinfect the inside of the tooth, then seal it to keep bacteria out. This lets you keep a tooth that might otherwise need removing. It usually takes one or two visits, and because the tooth is often weaker afterwards, we frequently protect it with a crown.
Saving the tooth, not just the pain.
Root canals have a fearsome reputation they no longer deserve. With modern techniques and proper anaesthetic, we clear the infection gently — and keep your own tooth rather than replacing it.
Is this right for you?
- Ongoing toothache or throbbing pain, especially at night
- A tooth that is very sensitive to hot or cold
- Swelling or a tender bump on the gum near a tooth
- A deeply decayed, cracked or previously injured tooth
- Anyone hoping to save a tooth rather than have it removed
What to expect, step by step.
Diagnosis
We examine the tooth and take an X-ray to see the infection, confirm root canal treatment is right and explain everything before we begin.
Comfortable Numbing
We numb the tooth thoroughly with local anaesthetic, so the treatment should feel no more uncomfortable than having a routine filling.
Cleaning the Canals
We gently remove the infected pulp, then clean and disinfect the tiny canals inside the root to clear out the bacteria causing your pain.
Sealing the Tooth
We fill and seal the cleaned canals to keep infection from returning, sometimes over a second visit if the tooth needs a little more time.
Protecting with a Crown
Because a treated tooth can become brittle, we often fit a crown to restore its strength and let you bite and chew with confidence.
Root Canal Treatment, answered.
It has a worse reputation than it deserves. The tooth is fully numbed with local anaesthetic, so it should feel much like a filling, and Dr Mandy takes real care to keep anxious patients comfortable.
Most root canals are completed in one or two visits, depending on the tooth and how much infection is present. We will give you a clear idea at your first appointment.
Keeping your natural tooth is almost always better for your bite and neighbouring teeth. Root canal treatment lets us save a tooth that would otherwise be lost.
A tooth can become more brittle after treatment, so a crown is often recommended to protect it from cracking. We will advise whether your tooth needs one.
The tooth may feel a little tender for a few days as it settles, which usually eases with simple pain relief. Any lingering discomfort, and we are just a call away on 019-488 1399.
Ready to talk about root canal treatment?
Book a consultation with Dr. Andy or Dr. Mandy. We'll assess your needs, answer your questions and give you an honest recommendation — no pressure.