What Is Root Canal Therapy?
Root canal therapy (or endodontic treatment) is performed on teeth that have been badly broken down, irreversibly inflamed or infected. This treatment is considered a last resort to save a tooth so it doesn’t have to be removed.
During the procedure, the pulp and nerve are removed, then the inside of the tooth is cleaned and sealed. Left untreated, these teeth would usually become badly infected or abscessed and must be removed.
Do I Need A Root Canal?
You may require endodontic treatment if your tooth pulp has become infected or inflamed. This can be due to a variety of reasons such as:
- Dental decay
- Fractured or cracked tooth
- Trauma to the tooth (resulting in pulp injury)
Without treatment, you may experience pain or an abscess. Symptoms of pulpal infection or inflammation include dull, aching pain, prolonged pain after exposure to hot or cold, tenderness on biting, discolouration or swelling. However, often, patients experience no symptoms at all.
Our General Dentistry Services
For patients who experience anxiety or discomfort during dental visits, our sleep dentistry options provide a calm and restorative experience. We offer safe, tailored sedation methods that allow you to receive the care you need without stress or fear.
Whether you’re undergoing a routine procedure or a complex treatment, our team prioritises your comfort and peace of mind. You’ll wake up to a healthier smile without the worry.
Preventative dentistry consists of home care and professional care. Usually, patients are encouraged to come in for a six-monthly check-up; however, everyone is different. Your dentist will tell you how frequently you should come in for a visit.
At Aria Dental, we use the Airflow EMS system which comfortably and efficiently removes biofilm, stains, bacteria, and calculus using a gentle stream of warm water, a fine powder and compressed air to gently exfoliate your teeth. No more scraping and scratching!
Wisdom teeth removal at Aria Dental is a smooth and stress-free experience, guided by skill and compassion. Our team carefully evaluates each case to determine the best timing and approach for a safe and comfortable extraction.
We use gentle techniques and sedation options to minimise discomfort and speed recovery. From consultation to post-care, your comfort and well-being are always our top priorities.
Our white fillings blend seamlessly with your natural teeth, restoring both function and aesthetics without compromising strength. We use high-quality, durable materials to ensure long-lasting results that look completely natural.
Each filling is carefully colour-matched to your enamel for a flawless finish. The process is quick, gentle, and designed to leave your smile looking as beautiful as it is healthy.
When a tooth extraction becomes necessary, we make the process as comfortable and straightforward as possible. Our experienced dentists use precise, minimally invasive techniques to safely remove the tooth while protecting the surrounding tissues.
Sedation options are available to help ease anxiety and ensure a relaxed experience. Afterwards, we’ll guide you through personalised aftercare and restoration options to help your smile heal beautifully.
The Benefits of Root Canal Therapy
- Preservation of Natural Tooth: A root canal is a procedure that helps you keep your natural tooth, which is generally the best option for your long-term oral health.
- Functional Integrity: With the placement of a crown after the root canal, the tooth can continue to function normally.
- Aesthetic Considerations: Keeping your natural tooth maintains the natural appearance of your smile.
Our Process
The process begins with thoroughly examining the infected tooth, including X-rays, to determine the extent of the infection and assess the tooth’s overall health. Once the infected tooth has been correctly diagnosed, your Aria dentist will provide you with a treatment plan for the root canal process.
At your root canal appointment, local anaesthesia is administered to numb the affected tooth and surrounding area, ensuring a painless experience. You can also choose to have sedation or sleep dentistry for your root canal. This is where you drift away or go to sleep to make the process even more stress-free.
A small access hole is drilled into the infected tooth, providing the dentist access to the pulp chamber and root canals.
Special instruments are used to remove infection from the pulp chamber, and the root canals are thoroughly cleaned, shaped, and disinfected to eliminate bacteria and remove damaged or infected pulp.
After cleaning, the void left by the removed pulp is filled with a biocompatible material, typically gutta-percha, to seal the space and prevent reinfection.
In most cases, a tooth that has had a root canal will require a custom-made crown to restore its function and strength to match the shape and colour of your natural teeth.
Root Canal Therapy Pricing
The cost of a root canal can vary based on several factors, including the tooth’s location, the procedure’s complexity, and the need for additional treatments like crowns. At Aria Dental, our root canal cost guide is below:
- Initial consultation: between $170-$200
- Single root canal endodontic treatment: approximately $2,500
- Two root canal endodontic treatments (typically for upper premolars): approximately $3,000
- Molar endodontic treatment (4 root canals): approximately $3,800
FAQ: Root Canal Therapy
We consider your root canal treatment successful if you can keep your tooth and be symptom-free over a five-year period. A tooth can get reinfected, however, if it has not been restored appropriately (such as having a well-sealed restoration like a dental crown), becomes decayed again, or if it fractures – as this is a pathway for bacteria to re-enter the root canal system.
Root canal therapy is not painful. Our endodontic therapist is extremely skilled in his treatment methods and prioritises patient comfort at all times. You will be given local anaesthetic to numb the area, as with any other dental treatment. In some cases, you may experience minor postoperative discomfort; however, this can be adequately managed with analgesic medication.
After your root canal procedure, you may feel a little discomfort or pain for a few days; however, your dentist will adequately manage these with analgesic medication to eliminate any discomfort.
Root canal therapy has a success rate of over 90 to 95%. As with any surgical procedure though, complications can occur. Please note that a tooth that has already had root canal therapy and needs to be retreated has a lower success rate.
If you don’t treat your tooth pulp infection, several complications can occur. For example, the infection can spread and can cause a severe infection or endodontic abscess (a ‘blister’ of pus) which can erode the surrounding jawbone. Once this infection has occurred, we may then need to remove your tooth.
A healthy tooth has a normal, healthy pulp and is yellowish white. If we have removed your pulp, it may turn grey. If this has happened to your tooth or teeth, our dentist will suggest appropriate cosmetic options for you, such as tooth whitening, veneers or bonding to remedy any cosmetic concerns.
We Put Our Patients At the Centre of Everything We Do
Our focus is to provide precise, comfortable root canal therapy that relieves pain, treats infection, and helps you keep your natural tooth for as long as possible. We combine careful diagnosis, modern techniques, and a calm, supportive approach to ensure treatment is clear, efficient, and clinically sound.
We aim to deliver a high standard of care at every step of your visit, with clear communication and treatment planning tailored to your needs. From your first assessment through to follow-up, our team is committed to helping you feel informed, supported, and confident in your car
