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Patient Information

WHAT IS ENDODONTICS?
Endodontics is the discipline of dentistry that deals with diseases of the root canal system and traumatic injuries to the teeth. All teeth have a dental pulp which is made up of the blood vessels, nerves and other tissues that keep your tooth alive. This is housed inside your tooth in the root canal system.

Sometimes the dental pulp becomes injured or infected and needs to be removed so that you can continue to use your tooth without pain or disease. In other cases, an existing root canal treatment you’ve had performed previously can sometimes become re-infected and require re-treatment by a specialist.

An endodontist is a registered dental specialist who has completed three years advanced training in addition to their initial dental degree and is an expert in diagnosing and treating endodontic diseases.

WHAT DOES ROOT CANAL TREATMENT INVOLVE?
Root canal treatment involves accessing the root canal system by making a small access hole in the tooth. The root canals are then cleaned, shaped and disinfected before being filled to protect them against future bacterial infection. Typically, treatment is performed over 2-3 appointments of 60-90 minutes duration each, depending upon the complexity of the case.

ALL treatment is performed under local anaesthesia to ensure patient comfort. Additionally, all root canal treatment is performed under rubber dam which is a rubber sheet that is fitted over your tooth and keeps it clean and dry while preventing any dental materials entering your mouth. We need to take radiographs (x-ray films) before, during and after all treatments. These are all mandatory requirements for root canal treatment in our practice.

We see patient comfort as a priority and take the utmost care to make you feel at ease from the moment you enter our door. It is important to remember however that we are treating disease and in some cases patients may experience mild post-operative discomfort caused by inflammation which is part of your body’s natural healing response to disease. This is typically well managed with mild pain-killers such as paracetamol (Panadol) or ibuprofen (Nurofen).

WILL ENDODONTIC TREATMENT SAVE MY TOOTH?
We are fortunate that modern root canal treatment is considered very predictable and successful in managing endodontic disease. In some cases, your tooth may have been severely compromised by decay, cracks or gum disease, which may affect its suitability for treatment. In addition to root canal treatment, a small percentage of cases may require an additional procedure known as periapical surgery to treat the disease.

We will always conduct a full assessment of your tooth and give you an idea of the prognosis before you decide whether to commence endodontic treatment.

Following root canal treatment, it is very important that you see your dentist to restore the tooth with a protective filling or crown. This reduces the chances of your tooth developing decay or cracks later and is a critical part of improving the longevity of your tooth. You should speak to your dentist beforehand to discuss what type of filling is planned and what costs and procedures are involved.

I AM NERVOUS ABOUT HAVING ROOT CANAL TREATMENT, CAN YOU HELP ME?
Dr Mohan will always make sure your treatment is comfortable but if you feel apprehensive or anxious about endodontic treatment, please let us know when booking your appointment. Dr Mohan has a special interest in treating fearful or anxious patients and regularly utilises relaxation techniques and sedation methods and we will gladly discuss all available options to assist you.
HOW MUCH WILL ENDODONTIC TREATMENT COST?
At our practice, we employ a fixed-fee system for all endodontic treatment so you know exactly how much your treatment will cost before you commence. Fees are based on the case complexity and hence differ for tooth type and our staff will always provide you with a quote when booking your appointment. HICAPS is available so you can claim most private health fund rebates at the practice.

To provide flexibility and assist you in preserving your teeth, we also offer an interest free payment-plan option over 6 or 12 months which requires only a 20% initial deposit and low monthly payments.

*Payment plans are provided through DENTICARE. To be eligible for this payment plan you need to be:

a) An Australian citizen.
b) Eighteen (18) years or older (Parents are eligible to sign payment plans for children).
c) Currently not bankrupt or subject to Bankruptcy/Debt Agreements.

More information on Denticare finance options is available from our friendly staff or click the DentiCare Payment Solution Link here