Bridges, Crowns & Root Canal in Townsville

 A root canal treatment involves several steps. First, your dentist will take an X-ray to assess the extent of the damage. Then, the dentist will administer local anaesthesia to numb the area. A rubber dam is often placed around the infected tooth to keep it clean and dry during the procedure. The dentist will then drill an access hole into the tooth and use special tools to remove the pulp, bacteria, and other debris from the tooth.

After the tooth is thoroughly cleaned, it is sealed. Some dentists prefer to wait a week before sealing the tooth. In the meantime, a temporary filling is placed. Finally, a permanent filling or a crown is used to restore the tooth.

Many people associate root canals with pain, but the procedure itself is no more painful than getting a filling. The pain people often associate with a root canal comes from the infection in the tooth, not from the procedure itself. The procedure is carried out under local anaesthesia, so you shouldn't feel anything during the treatment. Afterwards, you might experience some sensitivity or minor discomfort, which can usually be managed with over-the-counter pain relievers.

The process of placing a dental bridge typically requires two or more visits to the dentist. During the first visit, the abutment teeth are prepared. This process involves recontouring these teeth by removing a portion of enamel to allow room for a crown to be placed over them. Next, impressions of your teeth are made, which serve as a model from which the bridge, pontic, and crowns will be made by a dental lab. Your dentist will make a temporary bridge for you to wear to protect the exposed teeth and gums while your bridge is being made.

During the second visit, your temporary bridge will be removed, and the new permanent bridge will be checked and adjusted, as necessary, to achieve a proper fit. It is then cemented into place.

Getting a dental crown usually requires two visits to the dentist. During the first visit, the dentist will examine and prepare the tooth that needs the crown and may take X-rays of the tooth. The dentist will then anaesthetise (numb) your tooth and the surrounding gum tissue and file down the tooth to make room for the crown. If a large area of the tooth is missing (due to decay or damage), the dentist will fill it in to make it large enough to properly receive the crown.

After the tooth is reshaped, the dentist typically will use a paste or putty to make an impression of the tooth to receive the crown. The impressions are sent to a dental lab where the crown will be manufactured. The crown is usually returned to your dentist's office in two to three weeks. During this first visit, your dentist will make a temporary crown to cover and protect the prepared tooth while the crown is being made.

During the second visit, the temporary crown is removed, and the dentist will position and fasten the new crown to the tooth with a special adhesive.