Root Canal Therapy

Root Canal Therapy Melbourne

Root canal therapy from Birdseye Dental Group

The common misconception regarding root canal therapy is that it is a painful procedure; however, the main objective of root canal therapy is to relieve pain caused by an infected root and nerve tissue and save your natural tooth from extraction.

The thought of root canal therapy causes many patients to procrastinate making an appointment, but the longer you delay having a root canal procedure the more severe the pain and extensive the infection will become.

The introduction of new dental techniques and the development of fine instruments means that root canal therapy can be completed with little to no discomfort, in as few as two appointments.

Your tooth can be divided into two sections: the crown, being the visible white enamel above your gum-line and the root, consisting of what lies below your gum-line.

Beneath your tooth enamel is a layer of dentin; this is a porous tissue harder than bone surrounding the pulp, the soft tissue inside your tooth chamber made up of nerves and lymph vessels. A tooth can have as few as one or as many as four root canals.

Dr Birdseye will conduct a thorough assessment examination to ascertain the best treatment option; this may include a comprehensive set of x-rays. Following this, he will develop with you a personalised treatment program.

The root canal therapy procedure

To ensure your complete comfort, a local anaesthetic is administered to numb the entire area. A protective latex sheet called a dam is placed around the tooth receiving treatment to keep the area sterile, dry and prevent the spread of infection.

If treatment is required as a result of extensive tooth decay, it is treated and removed before an access hole is gently made in the top of your crown. With clinical precision, the infected pulp is removed, the root chambers are cleaned and sterilised and each root chamber is re-shaped and made smooth.

Miniature cone shaped rubber seals called, gutta percha are placed inside the root chambers, and these are used to prevent any further infection.

Depending on the extent of the infection that has caused the need for treatment, antibiotics or some other medication may be placed to fight the bacterial infection, prior to sealing your tooth chamber.

After your tooth has been sealed, it is restored with a porcelain crown giving it a natural appearance and strength. In the event that much of the tooth structure has been extensively damaged through decay, a titanium post, similar to that used for an implant, can be placed to provide additional support.

For several days following your treatment, you may experience some post-treatment swelling and a slight dull ache. Over the counter pain relief medication will alleviate any discomfort. A follow-up exam will be scheduled to monitor the healing of your gum tissue.

Learn more about root canal therapy

Continuing with a regular oral hygiene routine of brushing twice a day, flossing once a day and regular appointments for professional cleaning by our team will ensure your mouth, teeth and gums remain in ideal condition.

Over 95% of root canal treatments are successful; however, there are rare occasions when the procedure will need to be redone due to further infection. The earlier your treatment is performed the less likely this will be required.

If you would like to know more about root canal therapy, or to book an appointment, please contact us today.