Few dental treatments have a worse reputation than root canal treatment, yet most people who have one say it felt much like having a filling. Modern anaesthetic and techniques have changed the experience a great deal. More importantly, root canal treatment relieves the pain of an infected or inflamed tooth and allows you to keep a tooth that would otherwise have to be removed.
What is the “root canal”?
Inside every tooth, beneath the enamel and dentine, is a soft core called the pulp. It contains nerves and blood vessels, and runs from the crown of the tooth down through narrow channels in the roots: the root canals. Front teeth usually have one canal; back molars can have three or four.
Why would a tooth need root canal treatment?
When the pulp becomes inflamed or infected, it can’t heal on its own. Common causes are:
- Deep decay reaching the pulp
- A crack or fracture in the tooth
- A knock or injury, even years earlier
- Repeated large fillings on the same tooth
Signs include lingering pain with hot or cold, throbbing that keeps you awake, pain when biting, a darkening tooth, a pimple on the gum, or swelling. Sometimes there are no symptoms, and the problem is found on an x-ray.
What happens during treatment
Root canal treatment is usually done over one to three appointments.
1. Diagnosis
Your dentist examines the tooth, tests how it responds and takes x-rays to see the shape of the roots and any infection at the root tips.
2. Numbing and isolation
The tooth is numbed with local anaesthetic. A thin rubber sheet (rubber dam) is placed around it to keep it clean and dry and to stop anything falling into your mouth.
3. Cleaning and shaping
A small opening is made in the top of the tooth. The inflamed or infected pulp is removed, and the canals are cleaned, shaped and disinfected with fine instruments and rinsing solutions. The length of each canal is measured precisely.
4. Medication
If treatment is done over more than one visit, a medicated dressing is placed in the canals and the tooth is sealed with a temporary filling.
5. Filling the canals
Once the tooth has settled, the canals are filled and sealed with a rubber-like material, gutta-percha, and a sealer.
6. Restoring the tooth
The tooth is then restored with a filling and, for most back teeth, a crown. Root-treated back teeth are more brittle and prone to cracking, so a crown greatly improves their long-term survival.
Does it hurt?
The procedure itself is done with the tooth fully numbed, so most people feel pressure and vibration rather than pain. Afterwards, the tooth and gum can be tender for a few days, usually managed with over-the-counter pain relief. The severe pain of an infected tooth is typically relieved once the pulp has been removed.
Success rates and how long it lasts
Root canal treatment has a high success rate, and a well-restored root-filled tooth can last many years, often a lifetime. Success depends on how complex the canals are, whether there was infection, and how well the tooth is restored and cared for afterwards. Occasionally a tooth needs retreatment or a minor surgical procedure at the root tip, and complex cases may be referred to an endodontist (root canal specialist).
Alternatives to root canal treatment
The only real alternative for a tooth with an infected or irreversibly inflamed pulp is removing the tooth. Extraction may cost less up front, but the gap usually needs replacing with an implant, bridge or denture, which often costs more in the end. Keeping your natural tooth, where it’s possible, is usually the best option.
Cost
At Hornsby Dental, root canal treatment ranges from $800 to $2,500, depending on the tooth and the number of canals. Front teeth with one canal cost less than molars. The crown afterwards is a separate cost. Root canal treatment is usually claimable under major dental extras. See root canal therapy.
Aftercare
- Avoid chewing on the tooth until it’s permanently restored, as it can fracture
- Take pain relief as directed for the first few days
- Contact us if you have swelling, severe pain or the temporary filling comes out
- Keep up brushing, cleaning between teeth and check-ups
Root canal FAQs
Is a root-filled tooth “dead”?
The pulp is removed, but the tooth stays firmly in the jaw, supported by the surrounding gum and bone, and keeps working normally.
Why does it take more than one visit?
Infected teeth often benefit from a medicated dressing between visits. Curved or narrow canals also take longer to clean thoroughly.
Can I go back to work afterwards?
Most people return to work the same day or the next.
Will the tooth change colour?
Some root-filled teeth darken over time. Crowns or internal whitening can address this.
Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.
Find out more about root canal treatment in Hornsby.
Book a visit at Hornsby Dental
Hornsby Dental is at Suite 21, 14 Edgeworth David Avenue, Hornsby, about three minutes’ walk from Hornsby Station, with free street parking nearby. We’re open Monday to Friday 9am–6pm and Saturday 8:30am–4pm. Book online or call (02) 8090 1100.
This article is general information only. It isn’t a substitute for advice from your dentist about your own mouth and health.