A root canal is a dental procedure in which the tooth of an individual is repaired and saved from any infection or severe decay that might have happened. In this case, the inside of the tooth, mainly referred to as the pulp, is infected, causing pain and swelling. In this treatment, a procedure is performed in which the infected pulp is removed, and the inside part of the tooth is properly cleaned and covered with minimal sealing. It is one of the safest and most effective ways to increase the life of your teeth, which demands a bit of investment.
Before undergoing the root canal treatment, one needs to consider its cost, as it’s dependent on several factors like the experience and expertise of the dentist, the location in which you are undergoing the treatment, the complexity of the canal, and much more. Despite being a bit on the costlier side, it is one of the most effective ways to get rid of any uneasiness that you might be dealing with.
In this blog, we will discuss the cost of a root canal in Perth and the other important things that you should be aware of before planning a tooth canal treatment.
Reason For Having A Root Canal
A root canal treatment not only restores the functionality of your teeth, but it also uplifts their appearance while stopping any further damage from being caused. But how do you know it’s the right time to pay a visit to your endodontist? Several signs start appearing that indicate that you are in need of undergoing root canal treatment. Additionally, multiple reasons might be there that make it necessary for you to undergo this dental treatment, some of which are as follows:
1. Deep Cavity
A deep cavity is a stage when the tooth gets damaged from deep inside, causing a huge space inside your teeth. This creates a space, allowing bacteria and other infectious organisms to enter deep into the teeth.
2. Severe Toothache
It gets the most irritating and uncomfortable when you have severe pain in your tooth, which sometimes becomes unbearable. This pain is caused by the infected and inflamed pulp present inside the tooth. The pulp contains nerves and blood vessels, so as the pulp gets infected, the tooth gets irritated, causing pain in the tooth.
3. Damaged Tooth
A major reason for planning a root canal is to adjust the damaged tooth that an individual has. Once the tooth gets damaged or broken, going out with such a tooth doesn’t look appropriate at all. The damaged tooth needs to be adjusted with the root canal treatment so that all the teeth get properly lined up, creating a pretty smile on your face.
4. Repeated Dental Procedures
If one of your teeth is repeatedly undergoing dental treatment, then there are chances of a huge infection affecting the pulp, causing pain and irritation. One of the reasons for having continuous root canal treatment can be due to the high infection on the pulp inside the teeth. So, getting proper treatment for this is very important.
5. Faulty Crown
A crown is something that needs to be placed on your tooth to protect it after the filling is done. It is important to place a crown properly since it will protect your tooth from bacteria and other infections. Even a small gap in the crown can lead to infection and pain in that tooth.
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Root Canal Treatment Procedure
The process of a root canal is usually lengthy since it can take 2-3 appointments to perform a single root canal, depending on the infection and damage a root canal has. This treatment is said to be simple and easy, as it is mainly performed by dental professionals who are experts in it. As this treatment is a time-consuming one, it’s advised to take some time and be prepared for the process.
1. Initial Examination Of The Root Canal
The first step is to examine whether the individual really requires a root canal or not. This is done by examining the tooth and taking its X-rays so that the dentist can check the amount of infection or damage the tooth is having and take necessary actions.
2. Numb The Area And Creating An Opening
Once the infected tooth is found the dentist will then give you some numbing medication on the gum around the infected tooth. Once the medication shows its result, the dentist will give you a local anaesthetic. After taking this anaesthetic you will not feel the pain of the process. Thereafter, the dentist will create an opening to perform the further process.
3. Removing The Pulp
After creating the opening, it is time to remove the pulp or infected tissues from the teeth. The dentist, using special instruments, will remove the pulp and completely clean the tooth area so that there are no bacteria or infections left inside. And therefore, it will lead to zero pain and irritation in the tooth.
4. Fill The Canal
Once the tooth is cleaned properly, the next step is to give shape to the root canal and fill the tooth. The root canal is then filled with gutta-percha, which is a rubber-like material, and along with this is a sealer that helps prevent bacteria and other infections from entering the tooth.
5. Seal The Opening
One of the most important tasks after filling is to properly seal the opening that was created at the beginning of the process. The seal can be temporary or permanent, but it always needs to be properly closed since it will safeguard you from further infection and pain in the tooth.
6. Follow Up
Once your treatment is done, the most important task is to get a follow-up from the doctor. This follow-up appointment will properly check if the healing is being done as expected or not. The endodontist will also ensure that there’s no sign of a possible infection and will let you know if you need further treatment or not.
Cost Of Root Canal
Since the root canal treatment is a time-consuming and complex process, its average cost is quite high in all parts of Australia and not just in Perth only. As per the National Fee Survey, the average cost of a root canal treatment is between $750 and $1500. The figures can go a little high or low based on multiple factors. Learn more about the cost of dental care and find additional information on dental procedures at Health Direct.
Main factors affecting the cost of your root canal treatment includes the location where the treatment is being performed and the expertise/experience of the dentist performing the treatment. Furthermore, the complexity of the root canal treatment is also going to affect its cost.
Risks Associated With Root Canal
If you are going for a root canal treatment, then make sure it is done properly since its side effects can lead to some serious dental issues at later stages. Listed below are some of the risks associated with the treatment of root canals.
1. Facial Swelling
Facial swelling is the most common side effect that can be seen after a root canal treatment. In it, the face side where the treatment is performed tends to swell up. Often, the swelling is painless, but sometimes you may find symptoms of pain, discomfort, sensitivity, and irritation.
2. Nerve Damage
The possibility of nerve damage is also there, which can lead to serious issues and extreme pain since the numbness in the nerve can be permanent that can give you some odd feelings to experience. This usually happens rarely if the dentist is not experienced or is careless in their work.
3. Inflammation
Inflammation is usually a temporary and manageable risk that is associated with the treatment of a root canal. In this case, you will experience irritation in the surrounding area where treatment is performed. This also happens if the pulp affected by the infection is not removed properly from the tooth during the procedure.
4. Allergic Reaction
Some people are allergic to the materials used during the treatment of root canals. As a result, they face different allergic reactions, such as skin reactions, swelling, difficulty breathing, and more. So an individual who is usually allergic to things should always check the material that is being used for his treatment.
5. Improper Seal
The major risk that occurs if the seal is not properly covered is infection. Even if the bacteria is properly removed from the tooth, the improper seal will allow the bacteria and infection to re-enter the tooth, leading to pain and irritation, and as a result, it will give you serious dental issues.
Precautions After Root Canal
After the procedure of root canal treatment, it is very important to take care of the tooth. The most important thing is to avoid chewing any hard food from the tooth on which the root canal treatment has taken place. You should only consume hard food once your dentist allows it.
Along with this, you need to avoid taking hot or cold drinks or smoking for a few hours after the treatment. Taking a painkiller prescribed by your dentist is also important if you feel any pain or discomfort.
Maintaining proper oral hygiene and attending the proper follow-up appointments are also very important after the root canal treatment. All these things, when done properly, will help you quickly recover from the treatment and will give you healthy and flawless teeth.
Bottom Line
To determine the cost of a root canal in Perth, one needs to consider a lot of factors, such as the complexity of the procedure, the area they are going for their treatment in, the experience of the dentist, and much more. Since the prices are not fixed and vary from person to person, it is important to give more importance to quality and expertise while taking a root canal treatment.
Customers should directly contact the dental professionals to get an estimate of the cost that they will charge as per the individual requirements. In addition to this, an individual should always take professional advice and compare the different options, which will help them make a knowledgeable decision regarding root canal treatment.
Frequently Asked Questions
As per the AU Dental Association, the average cost of a root canal treatment in Australia is between $900 and $3,400. But it is important to keep in mind that this cost does not include the cost of the dental crown, which is often required after a root canal treatment.
The root canal procedure is not painful since the patients are given local anaesthesia before the treatment starts.
In most cases, the root canal treatment is usually done in one day since the dentists use advanced technology and techniques. but due to some factors like tooth complexity and dentist preference, it may take more than one appointment for the root canal treatment.
Going for a root canal treatment is mostly preferred over pulling off a tooth since it will save your natural tooth.
If proper care is taken, a root canal may last for more than 10 to 20 years, and sometimes it lasts for a lifetime.
Yes, a root canal treatment has its side effects such as pain, swelling, and sensitivity. And sometimes it can also lead to side effects if proper care is not taken.
