We are a referral-based practice so you will need to be referred to us by your dentist. Once we have received your referral, one of our Endodontists will make an assessment to determine what type of appointment needs to be scheduled. Your first visit to us is the most important phase of treatment and involves consultation with one of our Endodontists who will review the information from your referring dentist and thoroughly assess your particular concerns. During the consultation, we will take the time to explain what is involved in your treatment and encourage you to ask any questions that you may have. Your Endodontist will then develop a personalised treatment plan for you. In cases where you are experiencing pain, we will try and organise a treatment appointment at the same time as the consultation at our earliest convenience. Our reception team will be happy to discuss your specific needs and arrange an appointment accordingly.

Once your appointment has been scheduled, you will receive an email with information about where our practice is located, how to enter our building upon arrival as well as our office privacy policies and a medical history form to complete. If you have completed the medical history form before your appointment, then we ask that you arrive 10 minutes prior to your appointment. If the medical history has not yet been complete, then we ask that you arrive at least 20 minutes prior to your appointment to complete the necessary forms here.

All appointments are decided by the endodontist on what is required to start with, whether that is a standard consultation, a consultation and CBCT scan or a consultation and treatment appointment combined. We will advise you of what has been advised by the endodontist when we phone you to schedule an appointment.

We understand that sometimes you may have to cancel or reschedule an appointment. If this is the case, we ask that you provide us with a minimum of 48 hours’ notice by contacting our friendly reception team. Unfortunately, if adequate notice is not given, a fee may be charged.

The initial consultation fee starts at $350.00. The cost may increase if multiple teeth are to be assessed. The consultation fee includes all x-rays taken at the time of the consultation appointment but does not include the cost for a CBCT scan.

We accept payment by Visa, MasterCard, EFTPOS, cash or cheque (we do not accept AMEX or Diners).

Failure to attend an appointment without sufficient notification will result in an invoice which will reflect the amount of time that has been set aside for you. 48 hours notice is required to avoid incurring this fee.

Depending on your particular case, we will be able to provide you with an estimate of treatment after your initial consultation. This estimate includes item numbers that can be provided to your health fund and act as a guide for rebates. Please bear in mind that the treatment plan and estimate can, at times, change after further assessment or treatment by your endodontist.

Often if you have extras cover with your health fund then you may be eligible to claim a rebate from them. The rebate you will receive depends on your fund and what you’ve already claimed this year. We do not offer HICCAPS in our office. However, if treatment is required, we will provide you with an itemised tax invoice so you can claim back all expenses with your health insurance after your appointment or treatment is complete.

Yes, it is a good idea to eat and drink before your appointment as you would normally. There is no need to fast before your appointment. On occasion treatment is provided under oral sedation and you will have been given written instructions as to when and what you can eat and drink prior to the appointment. If you are a diabetic patient then please let us know so we can work around you to ensure that you are not having any prolonged periods of fasting unnecessarily.

There are numerous secure paid parking options available in Braddon as well as on street free parking for up to 2 hours. Please allow 30-60 minutes for consultation appointments and 90-120 minutes for treatment appointments.

After your consultation, your endodontist will be able to give you an idea of what your treatment will entail, including the number of appointments. Prior to commencement of treatment, you will be sent a quote so you are fully aware of expected costs.

Yes, generally you can drive after your root canal procedure, unless you have taken an oral sedative or are highly anxious, then you will need to have someone drive you to and from your appointment. Most root canal procedures are done using local anaesthesia, meaning only the areas that are being operated on will be numb during the course of the procedure. This means you are awake and aware during the process and can drive and operate machinery as you normally would immediately after the procedure is over.

Root canal treatment is necessary when the pulp, the soft tissue inside the root canal, becomes inflamed or infected. The inflammation or infection can have a variety of causes: deep decay, repeated dental procedures on the tooth or a crack or chip in the tooth. In addition, a traumatic injury to a tooth may cause pulp damage even if the tooth has no visible chips or cracks. If pulp inflammation or infection is left untreated, it can cause pain or lead to an abscess. Learn more about root canal treatment.

There are a few symptoms that mean you might need a root canal;

• Severe pain or discomfort while chewing or biting
• Pimples on the gums
• A chipped or cracked tooth
• Extreme or lingering sensitivity to hot or cold, even after the sensation has been removed
• Swollen or tender gums
• Deep decay or darkening of the gum

Yes, you can eat normally before a root canal treatment, and most Endodontists even allow patients to eat up to 1 hour before a procedure. However, as with all oral procedures, most endodontists prefer that you brush your teeth prior to the appointment. If you are having any oral sedation then you will need to follow the instructions given and speak with the team beforehand.

In addition to a dental degree, Specialist Endodontists are required to undertake at least an additional three years of post-graduate training, which enables the study and practice of advanced techniques in the diagnosis and provision of endodontic therapy. While some general dentists will perform root canal treatment, many choose to refer their patients to Endodontists to achieve the best possible outcome.

It is common for the treated tooth and surrounding areas to be uncomfortable for up to 72 hours after the treatment is performed. This is usually due to inflammation in the surrounding tissues and your endodontist will discuss suitable pain management strategies on the day of the procedure.

If you experience any severe pain or discomfort that is not managed by simple measures then you should contact our friendly reception team. Please be aware that in some cases treated teeth can feel like they have a different sensation after the procedure compared the other teeth.

The local anaesthetic used for the procedure that is responsible for the numbness will often wear off after a few hours. You must be careful during this time not to cause any further trauma to the surrounding soft tissues including your lip and tongue.

Endodontists mainly handle restorative procedures like root canal treatment, retreatment, microsurgical procedures, intentional reimplantation, management of trauma and non-vital bleaching procedures of teeth. Oral surgeons usually focus on surgical procedures like teeth extraction, dental implants, jaw fractures, mid-face fractures, jaw cysts/tumours, trans alveolar extraction, mid-face fractures, and temporomandibular joint (TMJ) complications.

The Endodontist removes the inflamed or infected pulp, carefully cleans and shapes the inside of the root canal, then fills and seals the space. Afterwards, you will return to your dentist, who will place a crown or other restoration on the tooth to protect and restore it to full function. After restoration, the tooth continues to function like any other tooth.

Most teeth can be treated. Occasionally, a tooth can’t be saved because the root canals are not accessible, the root is severely fractured, the tooth doesn’t have adequate bone support, or the tooth cannot be restored. However, advances in endodontics are making it possible to save teeth that even a few years ago would have been lost. When endodontic treatment is not effective, endodontic surgery may be able to save the tooth.

A root canal does not kill the tooth, and after a root canal is complete, the tooth will be able to function as it normally does. However, root canals do remove the nerves inside the tooth, but these nerves serve very little function in a fully formed tooth.

Most root canals are completed in two appointments. The first appointment is the cleaning procedure when the infected pulp is removed. The second appointment is when the root canals have a permanent root filling placed.  Your dentist will then place either a crown or another filling to prevent further infections. Each appointment lasts roughly 60–90 minutes each.

It’s not uncommon to occasionally experience some sensitivity in the region of the treated tooth for 1-2 days after the procedure. This is usually easily managed with a mild analgesic. If antibiotics are prescribed by your Endodontist, it’s crucial that you complete the course. If you are experiencing pain that is not manageable then you can contact our friendly reception staff who will often arrange for you to be seen as soon as possible. For further information click here.

In most cases, the tooth will be restored using a crown (or a cap) after the root canal treatment. This will protect the tooth from cracking in the long-term. Your referring dentist will usually organise the placement of the crown or final restoration. For further information click here.

Patients need to return to our office 6-12 months after their root canal procedure so that we can ensure that it has healed satisfactorily. 89% of cases will have healed within the first 12 months. We may have to schedule further follow-up appointments depending on individual circumstances. We will send a reminder notice to you when you are due for a recall appointment. For further information click here.

You should not chew or bite on the treated tooth until you have had it restored by your dentist. The unrestored tooth is susceptible to fracture, so you should see your dentist for a full restoration as soon as possible. A 6 to 12 month review appointment is often scheduled to assess healing of the case and ensure endodontic success has been achieved. Most endodontically treated teeth last as long as other natural teeth. In a few cases, a tooth that has undergone endodontic treatment does not heal or the pain continues. Occasionally, the tooth may become painful or diseased months or even years after successful treatment. Often when this occurs, redoing the endodontic procedure can save the tooth.

Our office will send you a reminder notice when you are due for a recall appointment. For further information click here.

After a root canal, try to eat soft foods that require very little chewing. Avoid hard or hot foods that might hurt your teeth. It may be advisable not eat for a few hours until the numbness in your mouth wears off so you don’t bite your cheek, tongue or lip.

Needing a crown after a root canal depends highly on the location of the tooth in the mouth—teeth towards the back of the mouth like molars and premolars are needed more for chewing, and generally require crowns, where incisors or canines which aren’t needed for chewing don’t always require crowns.

It is important that you discuss this with both your general dentist and Endodontist if you have any concerns. Please note you will need to return to your regular dentist for the permanent crown or restoration. Remember this will protect the tooth from future reinfection. For further information click here.

Root canals can fail for a variety of reasons, including a procedure that didn’t clean the canals to begin with, a breakdown of the crown or its inner sealant, or essentially anything that allows the tooth that previously had a root canal treatment to become infected.

Unless told otherwise by your Endodontist, brush and floss as you regularly would after a root canal treatment.

Sometimes after a root canal, the tooth can become slightly discoloured or develop spots called intrinsic stains, where the tooth bleeds internally and the inner part of the tooth turns yellow or dark. Luckily, the tooth can be whitened afterward through internal (non-vital) bleaching. For further information click here.

As the local anaesthetic starts to wear off after your treatment, you may experience some discomfort; this can often be managed with over-the-counter pain relief medications like ibuprofen (Nurofen) or paracetamol. Two tablets (400mg) of ibuprofen or two tablets of paracetamol (500mg) can be taken immediately after your treatment and then every 4-6 hours, if needed.

If your pain is severe, your Endodontist may recommend alternating between non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications (ibuprofen) and paracetamol. They may also prescribe you with some stronger acting medications if necessary.

In the days following your treatment, your tooth may feel sensitive, especially when chewing. This is completely normal as the tooth begins to heal. Continue with the pain medications every 4–6 hours as required.

Antibiotics are not normally needed, but should you experience fever or excessive swelling, or any other severe symptoms that need attention then please contact our friendly reception staff for further advise (02 6109 7268).

Nothing artificial will ever look or work as well as natural teeth do, so it’s always better to try and save your tooth if it’s possible. Endodontic treatment has a high success rate, and many root canal-treated teeth last a lifetime. Replacing an extracted tooth with a bridge or implant requires more time in treatment and may result in further procedures to neighbouring teeth and supporting tissue with possible risks.

If left untreated, the infection in the tooth can spread to other parts of the body, and in some cases can even be life threatening. If you are in need of a root canal, the infected pulp in the tooth needs to be removed.

With proper care and attention your tooth that has had a root canal treatment should last for a lifetime. An important step to prevent failure is to have a crown constructed with your dentist. There are occasions when teeth that have undergone treatment become painful or diseased months or even years after treatment. Often if a treatment has failed then you will need to have an evaluation with the Endodontist to determine what the problem is.

As with any dental or medical procedure it is possible your tooth will not heal as expected after treatment for a variety of reasons, including:

1. Narrow or curved canals which were not treated correctly during the first procedure
2. Complicated canal anatomy that may have gone undetected in the first procedure
3. Placement of a crown or final restoration was delayed allowing recontamination
4. The restoration failed to prevent salivary contamination inside the tooth allowing reinfection.

Sometimes new problems can arise that jeopardise a tooth that was successfully treated, such as:

1. New decay that exposed root canal filling material allowing bacterial recontamination creating a new infection in the tooth
2. A loose, cracked or defective crown or filling that exposes the tooth to a new infection.

New trauma, deep decay, or a loose, cracked or broken filling can cause new infection in your tooth and cause your endodontically treated tooth to fail. In some cases, the Endodontist may discover additional, very narrow or curved canals that could not be treated during the initial procedure.

Endodontic retreatment is a procedure carried out by the specialist in an attempt to heal the tooth that is diseased or painful. The tooth has previously undergone a root canal procedure but has failed. The Endodontist will reopen the tooth and remove the filling materials that were placed in the root canals during the first procedure. The Endodontist then carefully examines the tooth, looking for any additional missed canals or new infection. The Endodontist then removes any infection, cleans and shapes the canals and places new filling materials. The opening that was created is then sealed with a temporary filling ready for a new crown to further protect it. For further information click here.

Most inflamed or infected teeth will respond to non-surgical root canal therapy. In some cases where there are long standing infections, additional surgical treatment may also be required to help resolve the infection. Endodontists are specifically trained in this very specialized form of dental surgery which can save teeth that might not otherwise respond to treatment.

The technical term for this surgery is an Apicectomy which means to remove the apex (or tip) of the tooth root. In addition to removing a small part of the root tip (usually 3mm), the surrounding bone which can harbour abscessed or infected tissue is also removed (curettage) after which an adequate seal is placed (retro filling). At Braddon Endo we perform this procedure using an Operating Dental Microscope together with specially developed instruments such as Ultrasonics and Bio ceramic materials to ensure the highest level of quality for predictable healing. For further information click here.

Injuries to the mouth can cause displacement of teeth or result in the tooth being knocked out of its socket completely. Often these cases will require repositioning and stabilisation of the teeth by either your general dentist or Endodontist. If the pulp remains healthy then no other treatment may be required but if the pulp becomes irreversibly damaged or infected, endodontic therapy may be required as soon as possible.

Traumatic blows can also result in fractures in the crowns and/or roots of teeth. In these situations, assessment and review of the teeth is required to judge the need for additional root canal therapy.

The Endodontist has undergone specific training to ensure the best possible outcome is achieved when teeth have sustained any type of traumatic injury.  The prognosis of the tooth will be affected by not only the type of injury sustained but crucially the ongoing management of the case following the injury.

Oral sedation is available at Braddon Endo for patients having routine endodontic procedures and/or surgical treatments. Whilst most endodontic procedures can be performed with little or no pain due to excellent anaesthesia, additional sedation can be very helpful for patients who are anxious, fearful, gaggers, extremely sensitive or who find long procedures difficult to tolerate.

The main benefits of sedation are the relaxing and sometimes amnesic (memory loss) effects allowing patients to undergo treatment in a calm and restful manner. Oral sedation does not cause the patient to lose consciousness so you will be able to communicate with the Endodontist throughout the procedure. You will require a supervised adult to bring you to your appointment and pick you up to take you home. You will not be able to operate any heavy machinery, drive a car or sign any important documents for 24 hours to allow for the drugs to clear your system. Please feel free to discuss this option in greater detail with your Endodontist if you feel it might help.

You are also welcome to bring your own device and headphones in case you’d like to listen to music or an audiobook during your treatment. For further information click here.

There are many types of cracks or fractures that can occur in teeth with symptoms not always experienced. Symptoms may include pain when biting and chewing or temperature sensitivities and pain may come and go. Some cracks may not significantly affect the pulp and may only require a filling to resolve the painful symptoms. Alternatively, crack lines (favourable) may extend to a significant depth that allows infection of the pulp tissues, requiring endodontic therapy. Careful assessment of each tooth is required to determine which treatment option is most ideal. Unfavourable cracks need to be confirmed before a decision is made to extract the tooth.

When teeth are damaged and infected, they can sometimes become discoloured. This can be caused by the damaged pulp bleeding into the surrounding tooth structure or some materials and medications used in previous treatments. Standard bleaching or tooth whitening is not enough to mask this discolouration. Endodontic bleaching restores the natural colour of the tooth by whitening it from the inside. The inside of the tooth is accessed through the hole that was originally used to carry out the root canal procedure. The neck of the tooth (cervical aspect) is protected to prevent any risk of detrimental side effects. A gel or pellet of bleaching agent is inserted into this cavity then sealed in with a temporary filling. The bleaching agent is left for a period of days, and then removed. This process may need to be repeated several times to get the right amount of whiteness. The pellet or gel will be removed once the desired level of whiteness is met. The tooth will be restored with a permanent filling with your dentist. For further information click here.

The simple answer is no. Endodontic treatment is a complex treatment procedure that requires a level of cooperation from the patient.  The Endodontist is only numbing the area that needs to be operated upon. However, in some cases when patients are particularly anxious it’s best to consult with the Endodontist who might suggest supplementary oral sedation.

The American Association of Endodontists reports that a root canal treatment is a safe and effective procedure that is successfully performed on millions of patients per year. For further information click here.

Many endodontic procedures are performed to relieve the pain of toothaches caused by pulp inflammation or infection. With modern techniques and anaesthetics, most patients report that they are comfortable during the procedure. For the first few days after treatment, your tooth may feel sensitive, especially if there was pain or infection before the procedure. This discomfort can be relieved with over-the-counter or prescription medications. Follow your Endodontist’s instructions carefully. Your tooth may continue to feel slightly different from your other teeth for some time after your endodontic treatment is completed. However, if you have severe pain or pressure or pain that lasts more than a few days, call your Endodontist.

There is absolutely no evidence that a root canal can cause cancer. In fact, a root canal is the only way to remove an infected tooth that could spread and cause serious disease or illness. All claims that root canals cause cancer or other illnesses are complete myths.

Your tooth will only be treated if there is a good chance it will last a long time. People have varied healing responses and some infections may respond differently, so no guarantees can be given. Studies have shown the majority of endodontic treatments are successful and uneventful. We will inform you if your case is considered to be less favourable. Healing of the jawbone around the tooth can be slow and it’s important to have your tooth reviewed regularly to assess success. In rare cases, additional endodontic procedures may be required to aid the healing of the tissues around the tooth. Your endodontist will discuss this procedure with you if it becomes necessary.

It is still safe to have root canal treatment carried out during pregnancy. In fact, it can be more dangerous to leave infection in teeth untreated as complications like facial swellings and fevers can develop.

Generally, treatment in the second trimester is ideal, as by this stage your child’s organ development is complete, and by the third trimester lying on your back for a prolonged period of time can be uncomfortable. However, emergency treatment can be carried out at any stage to relieve your pain and to reduce the stress on yourself and the baby.

At Braddon Endo we are experts in managing emergencies and all root canal procedures. We use anaesthetic that is safe throughout pregnancy. Our goal is to carry out the root canal work efficiently to quickly relieve your dental pain and allow you to get back to concentrating on the pregnancy. The tooth is often stabilised and treatment delayed until you have given birth. This ensures only the minimal x-rays that are absolutely necessary are taken.

Endodontic treatment is generally carried out over two appointments for your comfort and to reduce the amount of time you are in the dental chair. During the first stage of treatment, an antibiotic paste is applied to the roots of the infected tooth. During the second stage of treatment, this is removed and a permanent root canal filling is applied to the tooth.

If you have any concerns it’s important that you discuss this with your Endodontist, but generally we recommend that you wait at least 4 weeks between appointments, depending on appointment availability. In some cases, your Endodontist may be happy for you to wait 2–3 months or longer between appointment if the need arises.

On the day of your appointment, you will be welcomed by our friendly reception team, who will check we have your current medical history.

If you are booked in for a consultation only, the Endodontist will have a chat with you first before carrying out a careful examination and assessment of your tooth. They will often take additional x-rays and then review these findings with you before discussing your treatment options including costs, and answer any questions you may have. If you have any further questions after your consultation, you are always welcome to call our team. You may also wish to discuss your treatment options with your regular dentist, who we will partner with to ensure the best possible outcome for your tooth.

If you are a travelling interstate patient or have booked a longer appointment because you wish to start treatment on the same day as your consultation, treatment should be completed within 2 hours. A local anaesthetic will be used during treatment so you may experience some numbness afterwards and a temporary filling will be applied to the tooth. The root canals will be thoroughly cleaned using an aseptic technique (rubber dam) and all the canals will be medicated to ensure your pain settles down. You may need to be mindful not to bite too hard or bite or burn your mouth while you are still experiencing some numbness. You may prefer to eat softer foods until any tenderness passes, but it isn’t essential to adjust your diet in any way. The endodontist will often advise you to stay clear of the tooth as much as possible until you return to complete the treatment.

A second appointment will be booked about a month later to complete the treatment. This second phase of treatment will be similar to the first appointment but shorter in duration (often up to 1hour is needed). At this appointment, provided there is no more pain, the treatment is completed. A temporary seal will be placed over the permanent root fillings in readiness for your dentist. The final phase will be an appointment with your referring dentist who will place a permanent filling or crown to prevent recontamination or fracture of the tooth.

Until recent years, radiographic (x-ray) assessment of teeth and root canal treatments was limited to two-dimensional images, which meant some critical information was lost in the imaging process. With the introduction of cone beam volumetric tomography (CBCT) we are now able to visualise the teeth, jawbones and surrounding structures in three dimensions. Rest assured that our practice uses advanced digital radiography to minimise radiation exposure. 3-D scans are important tools in the development of your treatment plan as they allow the Endodontist to not only see what is occurring under your gum line, but also provides a detailed record of your treatment phases and allows an evaluation of the outcome of your treatment.

Even if your dentist has already supplied images of your tooth, it may be necessary to take additional radiographs (x-rays) to check various treatment stages. Since the roots of the tooth are under the gum and enclosed in the bone, the root canals cannot be seen with the naked eye and can only be visualised with the assistance of radiographs. Our practice uses advanced digital radiography to minimise radiation exposure and we adhere to the guiding principle of radiation safety termed “ALARA”. ALARA stands for “as low as reasonably achievable” and means we only take x-rays that are justified for your benefit without detrimental risk to your health.

Utilising operating microscopes enables us to apply microscopic examination methods and microsurgical techniques as part of your endodontic care, thereby leading to new levels of diagnosis, therapy and most importantly better outcomes. Maximum magnification and illumination permit the visualisation of even the finest details in the tooth structure, details which are simply not visible with the naked eye. This provides an unparalleled level of precision using new dental technology services for endodontics and your overall treatment.

Knowing exactly what is happening below your gum-line allows your Endodontist to make an accurate diagnosis and develop the most appropriate treatment plan for you.

This modern-day replacement to x-ray film is particularly suited to endodontics. Digital radiography has 50-90% less radiation than traditional x-rays, whilst producing an image of superb quality that is viewed instantaneously on a monitor. This helps to reduce treatment time and enables us to explain to you in detail what is happening within your tooth and the treatment needed.

Made from an alloy of nickel and titanium these fine, specially developed instruments have greater flexibility and resistance to fracture as compared with stainless steel files. This enables them to remove harmful material and follow the intricate curvature of root canals to give them the correct shape.

The files are driven by a motor, which reduces the need for using hand-held instruments, resulting in predictable, efficient and rapid cleaning, reducing the time required for tooth preparation.

All of our endodontic files are single-use products that meet high standards for safety minimising risk and maximising consistency. Single-use instruments not only reduce risk of infection, but also reduce the time a patient must spend in the chair during treatment. 95% of adults find speed and efficiency at least somewhat important to them during dental procedures.

Cone Beam CT (3D-imaging) allows us to see the tooth in all dimensions, allowing us to make the right treatment decision. By seeing more of the tooth, the likelihood of success is maximised. Cone Beam CT is available in-house, minimising the need for external referrals.

With the Veraview X800, MORITA has redefined the top-class x-ray combination systems. Outstanding image quality for 3D images ensures a precise and reliable diagnosis even in the most demanding cases.The extremely high resolution of more than 2.5LP/mm at 10% MTF and a voxel size of 80μm show even the smallest details. In addition, a wide range of innovative functions, e.g., to avoid artifacts or for automatic image optimisation (based on real data), provide the greatest possible reliability in treatment planning.

Veraview X800 also sets new standards with respect to the ALARA principle. Related features include 11 exposure fields, automatic “Dose Reduction Function,” and the child setting. These features help to achieve the lowest radiation dose possible while maintaining exceptional image quality.