Services by Our Emergency Dentist

ROOT CANAL TREATMENT
The aim of root canal treatment is to save a tooth that has been badly damaged due to decay, disease or injury.

Infection or inflammation of the pulp can be caused by:

    - A deep cavity
    - Repeated dental work to the tooth
    - Trauma
    - A crack or chip in the tooth
    - Extreme wear

Symptoms may include pain, sensitivity to heat or cold, tooth discolouration, and swelling or soreness in the gums surrounding the tooth.

Inside each tooth is a pulp chamber which contains the nerves and blood supply for the tooth. When the pulp becomes infected, due to decay or injury to the tooth, the pulp must be removed from the centre of the tooth and the canals of each root. Once the infected pulp is removed, the remaining chamber is filled with a rubber-based material to seal it off. This procedure may be performed by a general dentist or by a specialist, known as an Endodontist.

The complete Australian Dental Association patient education pamphlet is available from your dentist.

 
EXTRACTIONS
Removal of a tooth or teeth should only be done after careful consideration and discussion with your dentist. Every effort is made to preserve teeth because they function better than artificial teeth such as dentures, bridges or implants. Some teeth are relatively easy to remove, while others can be difficult.

Difficult extractions are usually due to:

    - Adjacent teeth having crowns or large fillings
    - The tooth being in an abnormal position and affecting neighbouring teeth
    - A nerve lying near the tooth to be extracted
    - Roots that are large and curved, or that penetrate deeply into the jaw bone
    - An unerupted or impacted tooth, or a tooth that is fused to the jaw bone

In difficult cases involving molars or premolars, the tooth may have to be divided into segments so it can be removed easily and safely.

The complete Australian Dental Association patient education pamphlet is available from your dentist.

 
CRACKED TEETH
Cracked tooth syndrome usually occurs in a molar or premolar tooth but may affect any tooth.

Possible Signs and Symptoms of a Cracked Tooth:

    - Sharp and erratic pain upon chewing or after release of biting pressure; not all cracks cause pain,
    - Pain or discomfort when the crack is exposed to cold or hot food or liquids,
    - Difficulty in pinpointing which tooth hurts or whether the pain is coming from a top or bottom tooth,
    - The crack may not be visible to the eye or detectable on a dental x-ray film.

The treatment for most simple cracked teeth involves removing the weakened cusp and placing a large filling or crown on the tooth. Some cracks run vertically and can go towards the pulp (nerve and blood supply of the tooth). Treatment for a vertical fracture that has progressed to the pulp can be more complicated, and your dentist would discuss possible treatment options with you. If your dentist feels that your case is complicated and requires specialist treatment, the dentist may refer you to an endodontist or prosthodontist.

The complete Australian Dental Association patient education pamphlet is available from your dentist.