Find a trusted root canal dentist in Perth. Winthrop Village Dental is your trusted destination for expert root canal therapy. Our experienced team provides gentle and precise treatment to alleviate discomfort and save your natural tooth, ensuring your continued oral health and well-being.
What Is Root Canal?
Root canal treatment, also known as endodontic therapy, is a dental procedure designed to save a severely infected or damaged tooth. It involves removing the infected or inflamed pulp, which is the soft tissue inside the tooth containing nerves and blood vessels, and cleaning and disinfecting the interior of the tooth’s root canals. We specialise in Perth endodontics, ensuring your dental health.
When Is a Root Canal Needed?
A root canal treatment is needed when the inner pulp of a tooth becomes infected, inflamed, or damaged. This often presents as severe and persistent toothache, heightened sensitivity to temperature changes, swelling in the gum tissue, or the presence of a dental abscess. Deep dental decay, physical trauma, cracks, or fractures in the tooth can also compromise the pulp’s health.
Root canal therapy is essential to address these issues, as it involves removing the infected or damaged pulp, cleaning and disinfecting the tooth’s interior, and sealing it to prevent further infection. For affordable root canal treatment in Perth, look no further than Winthrop Dentist.
What Happens During the Root Canal Process?
The root canal process involves several steps to remove infected or damaged pulp from a tooth and preserve its structure. Here’s a brief overview of what happens during a typical root canal treatment:
Anaesthesia and Isolation
To ensure your comfort, the dentist will administer local anaesthesia to numb the affected tooth and surrounding area. In some cases, sedation may also be provided for relaxation.
The dentist places a rubber dam around the tooth to keep it dry and free from saliva during the procedure.
Access Opening and Pulp Removal
The dentist drills a small access hole in the crown of the tooth to reach the pulp chamber and root canals.
Using specialised instruments, the infected or damaged pulp is carefully removed from the pulp chamber and root canals.
Cleaning and Shaping
The interior of the tooth’s root canals is cleaned, shaped, and disinfected to remove any remaining infected tissue and to prepare it for filling.
Filling
After thorough cleaning and shaping, the dentist fills the empty space inside the tooth’s root canals with a biocompatible material, usually a rubber-like substance called gutta-percha, to seal off the canals and prevent further infection.
Sealing and Restoration
The access opening in the tooth is sealed with a permanent filling or a dental crown to protect and strengthen the tooth.
In some cases, a dental crown may be recommended to provide additional support and restore the tooth’s function and appearance.
Recovery
You may experience some mild discomfort or swelling after the procedure, but this can usually be managed with over-the-counter pain relievers. Your dentist will provide instructions for post-treatment care and any necessary follow-up appointments.
Expert Root Canal Treatment at Winthrop Village Dental
We offer expert root canal treatment to address a range of dental concerns. Whether you’re experiencing tooth sensitivity, swelling, or other signs of pulp infection or damage, our clinic is equipped with the expertise and state-of-the-art technology needed to perform root canal therapy effectively.
We prioritise your comfort and well-being, ensuring that you receive the highest standard of dental care to restore your oral health and maintain your beautiful smile. Experience high-quality and affordable endodontic treatment in Perth with us.
How to Prepare for a Root Canal
Preparing for a root canal treatment involves a few simple steps to ensure the procedure goes smoothly:
Consultation and Review Your Medical History
Schedule an initial consultation with your dentist to discuss the need for a root canal. During this appointment, your dentist will assess your oral health, explain the procedure, and address any questions or concerns you may have.
Inform your dentist about your complete medical history, including any existing medical conditions, allergies, and medications you are taking. This information helps ensure the safety and effectiveness of the treatment.
X-Rays
Your dentist may take X-rays of the affected tooth to get a clear view of the tooth’s root canals and surrounding structures. This step helps in planning the procedure.
Discuss Anaesthesia Options
Talk to your dentist about the type of anaesthesia or sedation that will be used during the root canal. This ensures you are comfortable and pain-free throughout the procedure.
Eat a Light Meal
On the day of your appointment, have a light meal before the procedure. This can help prevent discomfort or lightheadedness if the anesthesia causes temporary numbness.
Arrange Transportation
If you will receive sedation, arrange for someone to drive you to and from the dental office, as you may be temporarily impaired.
Plan for Rest
Depending on the complexity of the procedure and your individual response, you may need some rest after the root canal. Plan your schedule accordingly.
Root Canal Cost Perth
The cost of a root canal procedure in Perth can vary depending on several factors, including the tooth being treated, the complexity of the procedure. It’s best to contact with our root canal dentist in Perth for specific pricing information. Additionally, dental insurance may also play a role in covering some of the costs.
| Front Tooth Root Canal | $1,500 – $2,500 |
| Molar Root Canal | $1,800 – $3,500 |
| Retreatment of Root Canal | $1,500 – $3,000 |
| Apicoectomy | $2,500 – $4,000 |
What is root canal treatment (rct)?
It is the disinfection of the central core spaces of the tooth and subsequent placement of root filling to protect against infection.
When is RCT needed?
A severe tooth-ache is often due to inflammation within the central nerve (pulpal) space of the tooth. The cause is often deep decay or cracking of the tooth. Because the inflamed pulp tissue is attempting to swell within the rigid confined space of the tooth; this type of acute toothache can be severe. If the toothache is from the pulp and is severe, continuous, unprovoked and/or requiring painkiller medication or affecting sleep it means root canal treatment may be recommended. Even if the tooth eventually settles with medication or other treatment, root canal treatment (RCT) is still required because the dead space within the tooth needs to be disinfected and filled so there is no recurrence of pain and inflammation.
When is the best time to have my wisdom teeth removed?
It is now recommended by specialists that if impacted wisdom teeth need to be removed, this is best done between the ages of 14 and 22 years. At this time surgery is technically easier, patients recover more quickly and the risk of complications is much lower. This is a relatively easy procedure in a patient at the age of 20, however, it may become very difficult in a patient over 40 years of age.
Alternatives to root canal treatment
The only alternative way to remove the infection would be to extract the tooth. It is usually important to replace extracted teeth as a missing tooth often leads to follow-on negative impacts in the mouth. Replacing an extracted tooth often involves complex and expensive treatments such as dental implants or dental bridgework. If you’re seeking expert root canal treatment in Perth, visit us at Winthrop Village Dental. Our team includes skilled root canal specialists in Perth.
Possible complications
Some possible complications of treatment are pain and discomfort, loss of the tooth due to fracture, breakage of the fine instruments used to clean the root canal spaces, over-filling or under-filling of root canal spaces, failure to eradicate infection and others.
Should i see a specialist?
All dentists are trained to carry out root canal treatment but specialist care may be recommended for you. Endodontists are specialist dentists who only perform Root Canal Treatment and you should expect a higher level of care from them. Your dentist will advise if you need to see a specialist endodontist for your tooth’s Root Canal Treatment.
How successful is root canal treatment?
Your dentist will recommend RCT only if there is a good chance it will last a long time. But as with all dental and medical treatments no guarantee can be given – each tooth and person is unique and there is always the chance of possible complications. Studies have shown the majority of root canal treatments to be successful. Usually if your painful tooth settles quickly after your first visit (within 48 hours of emergency removal of the infected pulp) the treatment continues uneventfully. Teeth for which root canal treatment was delayed and/or have developed chronic infections have a lower chance of success. Assessing the success of treatment requires review visits with x-ray checks to see if the bone around the tips of the roots are healing.
Number of visits needed
Typically, treatment is done over several visits. The first visit is to soothe an acute toothache by removing the infected pulp. The second visit is to clean and disinfect the length of the tooth. The third visit is to fill the root canal spaces of the tooth. All visits require at least one radiograph (x-ray).healing.
During visits your tooth will be isolated and protected from bacteria by the placement of a rubber sheet around it. You will be required to be able to keep your mouth open for the duration of visits. The height of your tooth may need to be shortened so it does not contact with opposing teeth. This will reduce trauma and the likelihood of tooth fracture.
Will it hurt?
Root canal therapy is a comfortable procedure and quite similar to having a routine dental filling placed. Local anaesthetic is given to numb the tooth. However, it is not uncommon to experience discomfort after the visit, but this is usually managed with over-the-counter analgesic pain medication. Discomfort can also last a day or two after treatment, especially if you originally presented with a painful toothache.
Cost of treatment
Root Canal Treatment (together with the cost of the permanent restoration) is usually less costly than extracting the tooth and replacing it with an implant or a bridge. A printed quotation will be given as a guide. Root canal treatment is categorised as “major dental services” by private health funds. Winthrop Village Dental offers competitive root canal cost in Perth. Save on root canal cost with private health insurance in Perth.
After treatment
When Root Canal Treatment has been completed a crown (cap) is often recommended as the permanent restoration. This is to prevent the tooth fracturing due to it being weakened by the need to remove decay and reach the core of the tooth to perform the tooth saving treatment. A reminder; after the RCT has been completed the tooth will need a permanent restoration (as soon as possible) due to the risk of the tooth breaking from biting / grinding forces. So until the permanent restoration is done, avoid using the affected side to reduce the risk of damage.
Preferred Health Fund
Providers with:
What our patients say
Where to find us
Winthrop Village Dental
Shop 22, Winthrop Village
131 Somerville Boulevard
Winthrop 6150
Tel: (08) 9312 1388
Bookings
You can book an appointment with us online or call us at 9312 1388. Please note your dental appointment is considered confirmed at the time of booking. We have reserved the time with our dentists, dental assistants and hygienists, especially for you. We will contact you prior to your scheduled appointment with a courtesy reminder but ultimately it is your responsibility to ensure that you arrive on time for your appointment. We know that life can get in the way and if you need to reschedule, please give us at least one business day’s notice and we will be happy to find a time that better suits you.
