Root Canal Treatment

Root canals have a terrible reputation they no longer deserve. The toothache that brings you in is the painful part — the treatment is what makes it stop. Most patients tell us afterwards it felt like a long filling, and they're relieved to keep their own tooth rather than lose it.

Book root canal treatment (02) 6295 9460 1–2 visits

What's actually going on in there

Every tooth has a nerve and blood supply running through its centre. When decay or a crack lets bacteria reach it, the nerve gets inflamed and then infected — that's the throbbing. Left alone, the infection spreads to the bone at the root tip and you get an abscess. A root canal removes the infected nerve, cleans and seals the space, and keeps the tooth.

How the appointment goes

We numb the tooth thoroughly — properly numb, not 'let's see how we go'. Dr Gupta makes a small opening, removes the infected tissue with fine instruments, disinfects the canals and fills them with a rubber-like material. Then a filling or, often, a crown to protect the tooth long term. Usually one or two visits of about an hour each.

Afterwards

The tooth may feel tender for a few days, especially when biting — that's the ligament around it calming down. Regular pain relief handles it. The deep ache should be gone almost immediately. A root-canalled tooth can last a lifetime if it's protected with a crown and looked after like any other tooth.

Cost and health funds

Root canal treatment sits under 'major dental' on most health funds. Price varies with the tooth — front teeth have one canal, molars have three or four — so we'll quote you after we've seen the X-ray. Splitting the cost across visits is fine.

Things people ask about root canal treatment

Quicker, maybe. But then you've got a gap that needs an implant or bridge to fill, which costs more and takes longer. Saving your own tooth is almost always the better outcome.