Root canal treatment
Root canal treatment removes infected or damaged tissue from inside a tooth, cleans and seals the canals, and lets you keep your natural tooth. At Y3 Smiles Dental in Broadmeadows it is done under local anaesthetic, usually over more than one appointment.
What is root canal treatment?
Inside every tooth is soft tissue called the pulp, which holds the nerve and the blood supply. Deep decay, a crack, a lost filling or a knock can let bacteria reach the pulp, and once it is infected or badly inflamed it cannot heal on its own. Root canal treatment removes that tissue, cleans and shapes the root canals, then fills and seals them so bacteria cannot get back in. The aim is to settle the infection, take the pain away and keep your natural tooth. Not every sore tooth needs it. Sensitivity that settles as soon as the cold drink is gone, a shallow cavity, a high filling or gum pain around a tooth are usually dealt with in other ways, so your dentist examines the tooth and takes x-rays before recommending anything. The main alternative is removing the tooth, which is quicker and costs less on the day, but it leaves a gap that often needs replacing later. Like any treatment, root canal treatment has risks. A tooth can stay tender for a while afterwards, a canal can be hard to reach in a curved or narrow root, an instrument can separate inside a canal, and some teeth do not settle and need re-treatment or removal. A root-treated tooth is also more brittle than it was, which is why a crown or another solid restoration is usually recommended once it has settled. Your dentist will talk all of this through with you before you decide. The information on this page is general education rather than a diagnosis, and you are welcome to ask questions or seek a second opinion.
When might you need root canal treatment?
Pain that lingers
Sensitivity to hot or cold that keeps going after the food or drink is gone, or pain that builds rather than fading.
Pain when you bite
A tooth that hurts under pressure, or feels like it is standing higher than the others.
Swelling or a pimple on the gum
Swelling, tenderness or a recurring pimple on the gum near one tooth suggests infection has reached the bone.
A tooth that has darkened
One tooth turning grey or darker than its neighbours can mean the nerve inside it has died, with or without pain.
Deep decay or a lost filling
Decay or a broken filling that reaches the pulp exposes the nerve to bacteria, even if it does not hurt yet.
A knock or a crack
A blow to a tooth, or a crack that runs towards the root, can damage the nerve months or years after it happened.
What happens, in short
Examination and x-rays
The dentist tests the tooth and takes x-rays to confirm the nerve is the problem, and to see the shape and number of canals.
Numbing the tooth
Local anaesthetic is given and checked before anything starts. A thin rubber sheet keeps the tooth clean and dry while it is being treated.
Cleaning and shaping
A small opening is made through the top of the tooth. The infected tissue is removed and each canal is cleaned, shaped and rinsed.
Sealing the canals
Once the canals are clean and settled, they are filled and sealed so bacteria cannot get back in, and the opening is closed.
Restoring the tooth
The tooth is rebuilt so you can chew on it again. Your dentist will advise whether a crown is needed to protect it.
What does it cost?
Root canal treatment at Y3 Smiles Dental starts from $1,350. What you pay depends on how many canals the tooth has, because each canal has to be cleaned, shaped and sealed separately: a front tooth usually has one, and a back tooth can have four. The final restoration, usually a crown, is quoted separately. You get a written, itemised quote with item numbers before treatment starts, so you can check it with your health fund first.
You get a written, itemised quote with item numbers before any treatment starts, so you can check it with your health fund. Health funds · Payment options
Is root canal treatment painful?
It is done under local anaesthetic, and most people say it feels much like having a filling done.
The pain people remember is usually the infection beforehand, not the treatment. Some tenderness afterwards is normal and settles over the following days. If you feel anything sharp during treatment, you raise your hand and we stop and top up the anaesthetic.
When might you not need root canal treatment?
When the pulp is still healthy. Sensitivity that stops as soon as the cold goes, a shallow cavity, a high filling or sore gums are treated in other ways.
Your dentist tests the tooth and takes an x-ray before recommending root canal treatment, because several problems feel similar from the outside. If the tooth can be settled with a filling, an adjustment or gum treatment, that is what we do.
Is it better to just have the tooth out?
Removing the tooth is quicker and costs less on the day, but it leaves a gap that often needs replacing later.
Nothing replaces a natural tooth as well as keeping it. Teeth either side can tilt into a gap and the opposite tooth can drift down, and a bridge, denture or implant costs more over time than saving the tooth. There are times when the tooth is too broken or the root too damaged to save, and your dentist will tell you honestly when that is the case.
What happens if you leave an infected tooth?
It does not settle on its own. The infection stays in the bone and can flare up, and the tooth is more likely to be lost.
Pain can come and go, which is why people put it off. A quiet phase usually means the nerve has died, not that the problem has gone. Spreading swelling, especially towards the eye or under the jaw, or trouble swallowing or breathing, needs urgent care.
Do you need a crown after root canal treatment?
Most back teeth do, because they take the force of chewing and a root-treated tooth is more brittle.
It depends on how much sound tooth is left. Some front teeth can be restored with a filling instead. Your dentist will tell you which applies to your tooth and when to have it done.
How long does a root-treated tooth last?
Many last for years. What matters most is that the tooth is properly restored afterwards and kept clean.
A tooth that is left with a temporary filling for months, or never crowned when it needed to be, is the one that breaks. Regular check-ups let us watch the tooth and the bone around it.
Can root canal treatment make you unwell?
No. It is a long-established treatment, and claims that it causes illness elsewhere in the body are not supported by the evidence.
Leaving an infected tooth untreated is the real health risk, because the infection sits in the bone and can spread.
Symptoms that can lead here
More about root canal treatment
Other questions people ask
How many appointments does root canal treatment take?
Usually more than one. How many depends on the tooth, how many canals it has and how settled the infection is. Your dentist will tell you what to expect for your tooth at the first visit.
Can I drive afterwards?
In most cases, yes. Treatment is done under local anaesthetic, so you are awake and can drive once you feel ready. If sedation with an anaesthetist has been arranged separately, you will need someone to take you home.
Can I eat straight after the appointment?
Wait until the numbness has worn off, so you do not bite your cheek or tongue. Then chew on the other side until the tooth has its permanent restoration.
Why does the crown need to be done promptly?
A root-treated tooth without its final restoration is more likely to crack, and a cracked root cannot be repaired. Having the permanent filling or crown done when your dentist advises protects the work already done.
Can I claim root canal treatment on my health fund?
If your extras cover includes major or general dental, you can usually claim part of it. We claim on the spot through HICAPS, so you pay the difference on the day. How much comes back depends on your fund and your level of cover.
Will the tooth look different afterwards?
A tooth that had already darkened may stay a little darker. Internal bleaching or a crown can improve how it looks, and your dentist can talk you through the options and quote them after a consultation.