Restorative & surgical
Root canal treatment
Root canal treatment saves a tooth that would otherwise have to come out — by clearing infection from inside it and sealing it. Its fearsome reputation is out of date: with modern techniques it’s usually no worse than having a filling.
Mallee root — what anchors and endures below the surface; the root saved, not lost.
What it does
Inside every tooth is a soft core of nerve and blood vessels. When that becomes infected — through deep decay, a crack or an injury — it causes real pain, and it won’t settle on its own.
Clears the infection
We remove the infected tissue from inside the tooth, clean and disinfect the tiny canals, and seal them — taking away the source of the pain and the abscess.
Saves the tooth
The alternative to a root canal is usually losing the tooth. Keeping your own tooth, where we can, is almost always better than replacing it.
Straight answer: where a tooth genuinely can’t be saved, we’ll say so rather than put you through treatment that won’t work — and talk you through replacing it.
Signs you might need one
Root canal treatment is usually the answer to a specific kind of pain or infection. It’s worth being seen promptly if you have:
Severe or lingering toothache
Pain that throbs, wakes you at night, or lingers after hot and cold — a classic sign the nerve is inflamed or infected.
An abscess or swelling
A dental abscess is an infection that needs treating at the source; antibiotics alone don’t fix it. If the swelling spreads towards your eye or neck, or you find it hard to breathe or swallow, call 000 or go to your nearest emergency department.
A deeply cracked or decayed tooth
When decay or a crack reaches the nerve, a root canal can save a tooth that would otherwise be lost.
If you’re in significant pain now, this is exactly the kind of thing we keep emergency time aside for — call us as early in the day as you can.
What to expect
Root canal treatment is done under local anaesthetic, sometimes over one or two visits depending on the tooth.
- 1Step one
Numb & assess
The tooth is thoroughly numbed — you shouldn’t feel pain — and we confirm from an X-ray what’s going on inside it.
- 2Step two
Clean the canals
We remove the infected tissue and carefully clean and shape the fine canals inside the root, taking away the infection.
- 3Step three
Seal the tooth
The cleaned canals are filled and sealed to keep bacteria out, and the tooth is closed up.
- 4Step four
Protect it
A back tooth is usually crowned afterwards, because a root-treated tooth becomes brittle and can fracture without that protection.
What it costs
A root canal is priced by the tooth — front teeth have one canal, back teeth several, so they differ — and a crown afterwards is a separate step we’ll include in the plan. You’ll have the cost in writing before we begin.
Health fund rebates
All major Australian funds accepted and claimed on the spot through HICAPS — you settle only the gap.
Interest-free options
Larger treatment can be spread over time rather than paid upfront — just ask.
No surprise additions
Your quote covers the plan agreed. If something changes clinically, we discuss it before it affects the cost.
Benefits
Why consider it
- Can relieve pain caused by an infected or inflamed tooth nerve.
- Designed to save a tooth that might otherwise need removal.
- Removes infection to help protect surrounding teeth and gums.
- Often completed alongside a crown to restore the tooth.
Recovery
Aftercare & recovery
The treated tooth may feel tender for a few days as it settles.
- Mild discomfort or sensitivity when biting can occur for a short time.
- Avoid chewing on that side until any final restoration is placed.
- Take any prescribed or recommended pain relief as directed.
- A crown is often needed to protect the tooth, so follow up as advised.
- Contact the clinic if swelling or significant pain develops.
General guidance only — your dentist will give you instructions specific to your treatment and circumstances.
Meet your dentist
Dr Sumaiya Pathan
Dr Sumaiya Pathan brings more than 10 years of Australian clinical experience, having cared for patients across both metropolitan and regional communities — from Sydney to Broken Hill and across metropolitan Melbourne. That range matters: it teaches you to be thorough, and to treat the person rather than just the tooth.
She provides the full range of general and cosmetic dental treatments, and is known for a gentle, unhurried approach — taking the time to explain every option clearly, including the option to wait where that is clinically reasonable.
Cover & claiming
We accept all major health funds
We’re a HICAPS practice, so you claim on the spot and settle only the gap on the day. Allura Dental is also a participating nib No Gap dentist and First Choice provider, for eligible nib Extras members. That network is nib’s preferred provider arrangement for dental, so an nib Extras policy goes further here. Eligible children can be bulk-billed under Medicare’s Child Dental Benefits Schedule (CDBS), and interest-free payment options are available.
… and every other Australian fund.
Reviews
See what our patients say
We let our patients speak for themselves — read their unedited reviews on Google.
In line with AHPRA advertising guidelines, we don’t publish ratings or reproduce reviews about clinical treatment on our own site.
Questions
Root Canal Treatment FAQs
Does a root canal hurt?
Root canal treatment at Allura Dental in Truganina is done under local anaesthetic, so the procedure should feel much like a filling. Pain beforehand usually comes from the infection, which treatment aims to relieve. The tooth can be tender for a few days afterwards.
How many appointments does it take?
Often one or two, depending on the tooth and the infection. Back teeth with several canals can take longer than a single-canal front tooth. We’ll give you a realistic plan once we’ve seen the X-ray.
Wouldn’t it be easier to just pull the tooth out?
Extraction is quicker in the moment, but losing a tooth brings its own costs — the gap, and replacing it with an implant or bridge. Keeping your own tooth is almost always the better long-term option where a root canal can save it, and we’ll give you an honest comparison.
Will the tooth be weak afterwards?
A root-treated tooth is more brittle, which is why back teeth are usually crowned afterwards to protect them from fracturing. With a crown and normal care, a root-treated tooth can last many years.
Does my health fund cover root canal treatment?
Many extras policies contribute to endodontic treatment, though limits and waiting periods vary. We’ll give you a written plan with item numbers to check with your fund, and claim on the spot through HICAPS.
Related
You may also be considering
Crowns & Bridges
The crown that usually protects a tooth after root canal treatment.
Emergency Dentistry
In pain now? Our Truganina emergency dentist keeps time aside for urgent care.
Dental Implants
Where a tooth truly can’t be saved, the option to replace it.
Cost & Pricing
How our fees work, health-fund claiming and interest-free options.
This page is general information, not dental advice. Individual suitability — and the results achievable in your case — can only be assessed by a registered dentist in person. Outcomes vary between patients.
Find us
Visit us in Truganina
22 Bradshaw Street, Truganina VIC 3029 · on-site parking · Get directions →
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Ready when you are.
A consultation, an honest assessment, and a clear price before anything begins — book online, call, or send us a message.