If root canal therapy has been recommended, the most common worry is not whether it will work but what the appointment will be like. Knowing the sequence in advance makes it considerably less daunting, so here is exactly how we approach it.
Before Treatment Begins
Diagnosis
We examine the tooth, test how the nerve responds to cold and to pressure, check the gum and take digital X-rays. Sometimes the symptoms point clearly to one tooth; sometimes pain is referred and testing is what identifies the source.
We then show you what we have found and explain the options, including extraction, so the decision is yours and not assumed.
Managing Pain First
If you arrive in significant pain or with swelling from a dental abscess, relieving that comes first. Our Emergency Dentistry team keeps time available for urgent problems, and the first appointment may focus on drainage and settling the infection before definitive treatment.
The Plan and the Cost
You receive a written treatment plan and quote covering the root canal therapy and the restoration afterwards, because the two go together and quoting only the first half gives a misleading picture. Our Prices and Payment Options page covers health fund claiming and payment plans.
The First Treatment Appointment
Local anaesthetic is given and we wait until you are thoroughly numb. If you feel anxious, tell us. Our approach with anxious patients means longer appointments, clear explanations before each step and an agreed signal to pause, and happy gas is available if you would like it.
A rubber dam, a thin sheet that isolates the tooth, is placed. It keeps the tooth clean and dry, stops anything reaching the back of your throat and, for many people, makes the appointment feel more removed from what is happening.
We then open the tooth, remove the inflamed or infected pulp, and clean and shape the canals using rotary instruments designed to follow narrow and curved anatomy. Irrigating solutions disinfect the canal system as we work. Measurements are taken to work to the correct length, checked electronically and often with an X-ray.
A medicated dressing and a temporary filling are placed at the end of this appointment.
Between Appointments
The tooth usually feels considerably better once the pulp is removed, although some tenderness on biting for a few days is normal and usually manageable with over-the-counter pain relief.
Avoid heavy chewing on the tooth while a temporary filling is in place. Call us if the temporary comes out, pain increases or swelling develops.
The Second Appointment
Once symptoms have settled, the canals are cleaned again, dried and filled with a biocompatible material that seals the space. An X-ray confirms the fill, and the access cavity is sealed.
Some teeth need an additional visit, particularly molars with several canals or teeth with persistent infection. We will tell you if that is likely rather than surprising you later.
Restoring the Tooth
This step is not optional, and it is where treatment sometimes falls down when people stop attending once the pain has gone.
A root-treated tooth has lost structure and can become brittle. Back teeth in particular are prone to fracture, and a fractured root-treated tooth often cannot be saved. A crown, or sometimes an onlay, protects it. With CEREC same-day crowns, many of these can be designed and fitted in a single appointment.
Front teeth with minimal structure loss can sometimes be restored with a filling instead, and we will advise which applies to your tooth.
Afterwards
Look after a root-treated tooth exactly as you would any other: brush twice daily, clean between your teeth and attend regular check-ups. The tooth no longer has a nerve, so it will not feel decay developing at the margin, which makes routine examination and X-rays more important rather than less.
We review the tooth over the following months to confirm that healing at the root tip is progressing as expected.
When We Refer
Some cases are better managed by an endodontist, a dentist with additional specialist training in this area. Unusual canal anatomy, retreatment of a previous root filling, calcified canals and certain complications all fall into that category. We will tell you when that is the right course rather than attempting something better done elsewhere.
How Long It Takes and What to Expect Afterwards
A first root canal appointment typically takes between 60 and 90 minutes, depending on the tooth and the number of canals. Front teeth usually have one canal; molars often have three or four, sometimes more, and take longer.
Afterwards, your lip and cheek stay numb for a few hours. Mild tenderness on biting for a few days is normal and settles. You can return to work the same day, although scheduling a long or high-pressure meeting straight afterwards is not ideal.
Contact us if pain increases rather than settles, swelling develops, or the temporary filling comes out.
Book an Assessment
If you have a painful tooth, or root canal treatment has been suggested and you would like it explained, we are happy to help. Call Precision Dental on (07) 3852 1160 or book online.
