Root Canals
Root Canals Therapies at Safety Bay Dental
Root canal therapies (RCT’s) can vary in complexity from the very simple to quite complicated.
There are specialist dentists in Perth who do nothing but RCTs. If you need an RCT we will always offer you a specialist as a first and best option. Some people will choose not to use a specialist as they don’t want to travel to Perth or prefer to let their trusted general dentist do the procedure. That would be ok by us unless the tooth in question is complicated by its position (very far back in the mouth), it may be blocked with calcium or the tooth may have a very curved canal.
Generally, people are worried about the cost of an RCT. The truth is that the extra 10 or 20 per cent spent on a specialist at RCT’s (endodontist) is generally money well spent.
So if you choose for us to perform your RCT and we feel it is within the difficulty rating than a GP dentist can do, then we will do it for you. We will leave it for a little while after the rct is packed (obturated) to prove itself. The RCT’ed tooth can then be considered for a crown.
Which presents another issue. Does a tooth with an RCT need to be crowned?
The answer is that usually, it is best to crown these teeth to provide the best seal against bacteria ingress. However, many teeth are saved and are subsequently useful for decades with an RCT that is covered by a quality, large, direct restoration such as a composite filling. A composite filling is a white filling made of plastic with ceramic fillers.
Root Canal Treatment Considerations
| Consideration | What Our Dentist May Assess | How It May Affect Treatment |
|---|---|---|
| Diagnostic Factors | We’ll assess your symptoms, the condition of the nerve inside the tooth, signs of infection, cracks, previous dental treatment and X-ray findings. | These findings help us work out whether root canal treatment may be suitable and how straightforward or complex the treatment could be. |
| Urgency | We’ll check for severe pain, swelling, infection or other signs that the tooth needs prompt attention. | If the tooth is causing significant pain or infection, the first step may be to relieve symptoms and stabilise the tooth before completing the full treatment. |
| Tooth Restorability | We’ll look at whether enough healthy tooth structure remains for the tooth to be restored after the root canal is completed. | If the tooth can be predictably restored, root canal treatment may allow it to be retained. If it cannot be restored, tooth extraction may need to be discussed. |
| Appointment Sequence | We’ll assess the number and shape of the canals, the level of infection and whether treatment is likely to need more than one visit. | Treatment may involve cleaning and disinfecting the canals, sealing the tooth and then restoring it with a filling or dental crown, depending on the tooth. |
| Cost Variables | The cost can depend on which tooth is being treated, the number and complexity of the canals, whether previous root canal treatment has been done and what final restoration is needed. | We can explain both the root canal cost and the likely cost of restoring the tooth afterwards so you understand the full treatment plan. |
We Proudly Serve Patients From Across These Locations
Clinic Hours
Monday |
8:30 – 6:00 |
Tuesday |
8:30 – 5:00 |
Wednesday |
8:30 – 5:00 |
Thursday |
8:30 – 5:00 |
Friday |
8:30 – 3:00 |
Saturday |
8:30 – 1:00 |
Sunday |
Closed |