Level 17, 111 Elizabeth Street, Sydney NSW 2000
Level 17, 111 Elizabeth Street, Sydney NSW 2000
Root Canal Therapy · Frequently Asked Questions
Root canal treatment attracts more conflicting information than any other dental procedure, so these answers are deliberately plain. Where the profession agrees, we say so; where honest debate exists, we present both sides and tell you how we navigate it chairside. Four groups: the decision, the procedure, the debate, and afterwards.
How do I know if I need a root canal?
Lingering pain to hot or cold, spontaneous or night-time toothache, pain on biting, a gum pimple near a tooth, a darkening tooth, or an abscess found on X-ray with no symptoms at all. Diagnosis needs testing and imaging; symptoms alone mislead in both directions.
My toothache went away. Problem solved?
Often the opposite: a dying nerve stops reporting while the infection continues into the bone. A toothache that vanished still needs assessment; silence is not health.
Root canal or extraction: which is right?
It depends on the tooth's restorability, the canal anatomy on 3D imaging, your health picture and your own values. Both paths are laid out with costs in writing, and we tell you honestly which we would choose for that tooth in our own mouth. Our When It's Right page walks the decision through.
Can antibiotics fix the infection instead?
No. Antibiotics cannot reach bacteria sealed inside a dead canal system; they manage acute spread while the definitive treatment, root canal or extraction, deals with the source. Antibiotics alone are a postponement, sometimes a dangerous one.
What happens if I do nothing?
The infection persists and usually progresses: bone loss around the root, abscess flare-ups, occasionally serious spreading infection. The tooth also becomes harder to save the longer treatment waits. Doing nothing is a decision too, and it deserves the same honest information as the others.
Does a root canal hurt?
The procedure is done under local anaesthetic and typically feels like a long filling appointment. The pain root canals are famous for is the untreated infection beforehand; treatment is what ends it.
How many visits does it take?
Usually one to two, depending on the tooth's anatomy and the state of the infection, plus the restoration visit for the crown or onlay that protects the result.
What makes SHDC's approach different technically?
Rubber dam isolation, surgical microscopy, 3D cone beam imaging of the canal anatomy, electronic length measurement and modern antimicrobial irrigation, performed by a principal with a graduate diploma in clinical endodontics. Published success rates belong to this standard of treatment, which is why we insist on it.
Why does the tooth need a crown afterwards?
A root-treated tooth is more brittle and has usually already lost structure to decay and access. A crown or onlay protects it from fracture; skipping it is the most common way a successful root canal is wasted.
Are root canals dangerous to my general health?
The mainstream evidence, and the position of the ADA and the American Association of Endodontists, does not support claims that properly treated root canals cause systemic disease, and we do not make those claims. The century-old 'focal infection' research behind the scare has not survived modern scrutiny.
Then why do some holistic dentists refuse to do them?
The honest core of the caution: no canal system can be verified perfectly sterile, and some practitioners and patients weigh any persistent bacterial presence differently, particularly with compromised immunity. We treat that as a legitimate value judgement to inform, not a scientific claim to inflate. Both cases are set out on the pillar page.
Where does SHDC stand?
Case by case, on imaging, restorability and your health picture, with both options costed and the reasoning shared. We perform root canal treatment to the highest technical standard and we perform careful biological extractions; holding both skills honestly is the position.
What is a 'failed' root canal, and can it be fixed?
A treated tooth where infection persists or returns, visible on follow-up imaging or through symptoms. Options include retreatment, endodontic microsurgery via a specialist, or extraction and replacement; which one is another evidence-plus-values decision we walk through together.
How long does a root canal treated tooth last?
With quality treatment and a proper crown, commonly decades; we verify rather than assume, with follow-up imaging confirming bone healing. Longevity ultimately rides on the restoration and your ongoing care.
Is there aftercare?
Mild tenderness for a few days is normal and manageable; avoid heavy chewing on the tooth until the final restoration is placed. Report anything beyond that promptly.
What does root canal treatment cost?
Priced by canal complexity (front teeth one canal, molars three or more) plus the crown or onlay. Written quotes precede treatment, and the extraction-and-replacement comparison is costed alongside so the decision is financially informed too.
Will my health fund contribute?
Endodontic and crown item numbers typically attract rebates under major dental depending on cover; itemised quotes let you confirm precisely. HICAPS on site.
A comprehensive consultation with imaging gives you a written plan with your options and all-inclusive costs before you commit to anything.
Craig image
Dr Craig Wilson
Principal Dentist — Grad Dip Clinical Endodontics
Dr Craig Wilson has practised at Sydney Holistic Dental Centre since its founding and holds a graduate diploma in clinical endodontics. He leads the practice's endodontic programme.
