Root Canal Therapy
in Balcatta

Endodontic treatment, commonly known as root canal therapy, can be considered a routine and safe dental procedure. Dental professionals who perform it must have the necessary training and experience to ensure the success of the treatment.

A thorough assessment of the infected tooth is crucial in determining the appropriate dental treatment plan. With recent advancements in dentistry, root canal therapy is now straightforward and safe. Researchers discussed that having a radiographic of the tooth (which can be taken using modern technology) and studying the complex pulp anatomy are linked to the success and safety of the procedure.

There are many benefits to undergoing root canal treatment:

• Dentists perform endodontic therapy to prevent the infection from severely damaging the tooth and spreading to adjacent teeth.
  
  
• Infected pulp may cause persistent and painful symptoms such as tooth sensitivity, tooth pain that radiates to neighbouring areas, and inflamed gums. These common dental problems are reduced with root canal therapy.
  
  
• Reduce the possibility of damaging your gums, teeth, and jawbone as a result of the infection that causes tooth abscess
  
  
• One of the significant benefits of a root canal is preventing the need for tooth extraction and preserving your tooth instead. Generally, it’s best to save it and enjoy the function of a natural tooth rather than receive a restoration.
  
  
• Root canal therapy can be essential in maintaining excellent oral health and overall health. It will eliminate dental issues like severely decayed teeth, cavities, and persistent toothaches. In addition, the treatment may also help to avoid more invasive dental procedures and health problems that are linked to poor oral health.

• The dentist will inspect the infected tooth and take a dental x-ray to get a clear structure image. Then they will numb the area by administering local anaesthesia. Once the area around the tooth is numb, your dentist puts a dental dam on it to protect it and keep it from saliva.
  
  
• Next, your dentist makes a hole in the crown or surface of the tooth to gain access to the centre. Special small dental instruments are important to clean out debris or inflamed tissues from the pulp and root canals. Following that, the dentist will shape the space to make room for the filling.
  
  
• The space is cleaned and shaped before the dentist fills it with a biocompatible material such as gutta-percha. They then put on an adhesive cement to ensure complete sealing of your root canals before placing temporary fillings.
  
  
• After that, your dentist will remove the temporary fillings before placing the crown to restore the function and protect your tooth. They will give you after-care instructions to maintain oral hygiene and speed up your recovery.

Root canals are typically performed in one to two appointments. The first appointment involves removing the infected pulp, and the second visit (or maybe third) is intended for cleaning, filling, and placing the crown.

The amount of time in each session may depend on the complexity of the procedure (how many canals require treatment). Simple root canals can take 30 to 60 minutes, while more complicated cases can take several hours.

Endodontic treatment takes significant time since it requires concentration and involves several steps, including preparation, disinfecting, filling, and placing a crown, which may also be necessary. Also, the number of pulp canals may affect the procedure’s time.

The tooth may need a root canal because it has become infected. A dentist will perform this procedure to save the affected tooth by removing some of the inflamed inner structures. However, just like with other medical procedures, there are some potential risks and factors, such as the infection being too deep or the enamel is too frail.

• Recurrence of bacteria
  In rare cases, an inadequate seal may result in the persistence of bacteria in a treated tooth or even around the end of the root, which may potentially cause the failure of the treatment. Hence, performing a thorough cleaning and sterilization of the canals is crucial during endodontic therapy.
  
  
• Untreated canals
  Every patient has a different number of canals, so the dentist needs to examine the tooth. For instance, a broken tooth may have narrow roots or more canals than tooth roots or an unexpected count. This may cause difficulty in performing the treatment. If the dentist misses a canal, there’s a chance it could cause complications.
  
  
• Broken or failure of instruments
  Root canal therapy is a treatment process that requires very fine instruments. Sometimes these delicate tools can break or separate, affecting the success of the treated tooth.
  
  
• Improper filling
  In some cases, canals that have been underfilled or overfilled with sealant material are more likely to fail.

There are times when a root canal is the best solution for your teeth. If you’re not sure about receiving it, talk to an experienced dentist, and they will be able to relieve any fear and make sure you’re comfortable.

If any of these situations occur during or after your root canal treatment, your dentist will discuss alternative options that are best suitable for you or may recommend endodontic retreatment. The dental team will make sure to ease your discomfort.

According to a study, root canal therapy has an impressive success rate of up to 98%. Your dentist will carefully assess the infected tooth to determine a custom treatment plan for saving it and maintaining good oral health.

Adequate disinfecting, shaping, and filling of the endodontically treated tooth may influence the success of the treatment. It can also be necessary to determine the correct number of patient canals in order to execute such processes properly. Another reason that may contribute to the success of root canal therapy is the experience and skills of the dental practitioner. Hence, it is essential to find a dentist who routinely performs the treatment.

Moreover, despite the high success rate of root canals in saving teeth, it is essential to understand the common reasons for treatment failure. If you’re concerned, you can discuss your alternatives with your dentist.

Endodontic treatment can be an ideal alternative to preserve an infected tooth and prevent tooth loss. Yet, some factors need to be considered by your dentist regarding whether you can benefit from it.

While there’s no way to know how your teeth will react unless an assessment of your oral health is done, most teeth that still have a good amount of crown left can have a positive prognosis with root canal treatment. Otherwise, the dentist may suggest additional preparation to ensure success or recommend alternative options.

Common reasons for a tooth that may not be treated with root canal therapy are the following:

• The root canals are inaccessible.
• The root has been badly fractured.
• The affected tooth lacks sufficient bone support.
• The tooth is irreversibly damaged and cannot be restored.

Endodontic treatment is often used to save a tooth. However, if it does not work, then there may be another option that includes surgery to remove the damaged area and receiving other procedures such as dental bridges or crowns.

Root canals may relieve tooth pain by removing infected or inflamed soft tissues in the tooth’s centre, but they don’t restore the tooth to its original strength. In this regard, they may need reinforcement to function just like your natural tooth.

The primary reason for placing a dental crown following root canal treatment is to protect and restore your tooth. Although, there are other important factors to consider whether it is necessary for your case:

• To strengthen a weak tooth.
  Decay as well as a large amount of dental tissue removed during the root canal procedure makes the tooth more susceptible to deterioration when it receives force from chewing. A crown will help reinforce the outer structure and prevent it from crumbling by covering the surface area.
  
  
• To prevent re-infection.
  Unfortunately, suppose you have an infected or injured tooth. It is more likely that bacteria may be recurrent if no additional protection is done or improper cleaning of the affected area. A dental crown adds another layer of protection against this infection so that the tooth doesn’t have to be removed.
  
  
• To avoid tooth sensitivity.
  Root canals are an essential part of dental care that may be needed when a tooth has suffered significant damage. Removing some part of the pulp may result in tooth sensitivity to temperature, and fitting a dental crown can cover the tooth and help it withstand cold, heat, and pressure.
  
  
• To avoid tooth discolouration.
  Removing a tooth’s pulp can leave it looking grey or deeply stained. But don’t worry, restoring your whiter shade with dental crowns will match up the other teeth nicely.

The average cost of root canal therapy in Western Australia varies and may be influenced by different factors. The process of the procedure, the number of affected teeth and canals, fillings, and type of crown may contribute to estimating the actual cost of the treatment.

According to sources, endodontic treatment may range from $990 to $3590, depending on the severity of the case. This may include an oral examination, dental x-ray, pulp extirpation (pulp removal), elimination of bacteria from the pulp, and restoration.