Family-owned · Fletcher, NSW
A badly infected tooth does not have to come out. Root canal treatment clears infection from inside the tooth, relieves the pain it causes, and aims to keep your natural tooth in place. At MS Dental Fletcher we carry out this treatment regularly for families across Fletcher, Maryland, Minmi and Wallsend.
In pain today? Tell reception it is a dental emergency. Same-day care is available at Fletcher subject to availability and clinical urgency.
Fletcher · your written estimate
Itemised, in writing, and handed to you at the assessment — before you consent to anything.
We do not publish a set price, because no two teeth are the same. A crown, where we recommend one, is quoted separately and planned in from the outset.
Preferred provider for HCF, CBHS and Westfund. All health funds welcome.
01Straight answers
Root canal treatment, also called endodontic treatment, removes infected or inflamed pulp from inside a tooth, disinfects the canal system, and seals it to reduce the risk of bacteria returning. It is the standard method of saving a tooth that would otherwise need to be extracted.
The tooth is numbed with local anaesthetic before treatment begins, and your dentist confirms it is numb before proceeding. Most patients report that the appointment is more comfortable than they expected, and considerably easier than the toothache that brought them in.
Straightforward front teeth can sometimes be completed in a single longer visit. Molars with several canals usually require two to three appointments of 45 to 90 minutes each. Your written plan states the expected number before treatment begins.
Cost depends on which tooth is treated, the number of canals and their anatomy, and whether a post or a crown is needed. Because every tooth differs, we provide a written, itemised estimate at your assessment, before any treatment begins.
Root canal treatment in Fletcher is provided at MS Dental Fletcher, 9 Churnwood Drive, Fletcher NSW 2287. Phone (02) 4953 8614. Open Monday to Friday, 9.00am to 5.30pm
02Inside the tooth
Every tooth has a soft core called the dental pulp, which holds the nerve, the blood supply and connective tissue. It runs from the crown of the tooth down through narrow channels called root canals to the tip of each root.
When decay reaches the pulp, or a crack or a knock allows bacteria in, the pulp becomes inflamed and then infected. Unlike a cut on your hand, pulp inside a sealed tooth cannot heal itself. The infection has nowhere to drain, so pressure builds and the tooth aches. Left untreated, bacteria travel out of the root tip and form a dental abscess in the surrounding bone.
At that point there are two options: remove the tooth, or clean the inside of it and save it. Root canal treatment is the second.
Your own tooth is held in bone by a ligament that senses pressure and allows you to judge how hard to bite. No replacement reproduces that entirely. A natural tooth also holds the neighbouring teeth in position and maintains the jawbone that supported it. Once a tooth is removed, the bone beneath begins to resorb, and the gap allows nearby teeth to drift and tilt.
Dental abscess symptoms· Tooth extraction· Gum disease and bone loss
Inside a root-treated tooth
!When we say no
There are cases where extraction is the better clinical decision, and we will say so plainly when it applies. A tooth split vertically through the root, a tooth with too little structure remaining to rebuild, or significant bone loss around the root can all mean removal makes more sense.
We would rather give you an honest recommendation than proceed with treatment unlikely to succeed.
03Symptoms
Book an assessment at Fletcher if any of the following applies. The tag on the right indicates how promptly it is worth contacting us.
Pain that fades on its own is the warning sign patients most often disregard. The nerve dies, the ache stops, and the problem appears to have resolved. Meanwhile the infection continues into the bone. If a tooth hurt badly and then went quiet, have it checked.
Toothache relief· Emergency dentistry· Custom mouthguards for sport
04Why saving the tooth matters
Root canal treatment is not only about relieving the ache. It is about what remains in place afterwards.
05Start to finish
We follow the same eight-step sequence for every patient, so you always know what happens next and what it will cost before it happens.
● Step 1 of 8
01 Assessment and diagnosis
The step marker follows your scroll through the eight stages.
We take a focused history and test how the tooth responds to temperature and pressure, then take a digital X-ray to examine the root anatomy and check for bone loss at the root tip. We will show you the image and explain what we can see. If root canal treatment is not the right course, we will say so at the appointment.
Before anything begins you receive a written plan. It sets out the number of appointments, the cost, your expected health-fund rebate and the gap you will pay. We discuss payment plan options at the same time. No treatment begins without your informed consent.
Local anaesthetic is administered and given time to take effect. We confirm the tooth is fully numb before starting, and agree a hand signal so you can pause the appointment at any point. If you feel anxious, tell us when you book and we will allow extra time.
We open a small access hole in the crown of the tooth and remove the infected pulp. The canals are then irrigated with a disinfecting solution that reaches areas instruments cannot. In many cases an antibacterial medication is sealed inside the tooth to settle the nerve before the next stage.
We shape the canals into a smooth, tapered form and measure them to their full working length, so the final filling seals to the root tip and no further. Accurate working length is one of the strongest indicators of a durable result.
The prepared canals are filled with gutta-percha, an inert rubber-like material, and sealed. A permanent filling closes the access opening. The canal system is sealed to reduce the risk of reinfection.
A root-treated tooth has had material removed from its core, so it becomes more brittle. We recommend a crown on back teeth in nearly every case, because a crowned root-treated tooth generally lasts longer than one left unprotected. This is the step patients most often defer, and deferring it is the most common reason a successful root canal is later lost to fracture.
We check the tooth at your next check-up and clean, and follow healing at the root tip with X-rays over time.
06Your clinicians
Principal Dentist
Dr Shah allows additional appointment time for patients who identify as anxious, and explains each stage of treatment before it begins.
Dr Monika Shah is the Principal Dentist and clinical lead of MS Dental Family Practice, based at the Fletcher clinic. She completed her Bachelor of Dental Surgery in India in 2006 and entered private practice there before moving to Australia in February 2007.
She founded MS Dental as a family practice and continues to care for families across Fletcher, Maryland, Minmi and Wallsend.
Joined MS Dental in 2020 and treats patients across all three clinics. He completed two years of placements in Darwin, Mackay, Cairns and Townsville, treating a high volume of patients from rural and regional communities.
Full profile
Diploma in Oral Health Therapy, Nanyang Polytechnic, 2016, with substantial public dental service experience. Natasha supports the preventive care that reduces the likelihood of root canal treatment being needed at all.
Full profile← Swipe to meet the team →
07The practice
Root canal treatment in Fletcher is carried out by our own dentists at the Churnwood Drive clinic, from the first assessment through to the final restoration. Here is what that means in practice.
Why choose us· Preferred providers· Payment plans· Customer service charter· Child dental, bulk billed
08Our approach
09Weighing it up
Where a tooth can be saved, that is usually the better outcome for both your health and your budget. Removal makes sense when the tooth is beyond saving, and an implant or bridge then replaces it.
| Root canal + crown | Extraction only | Extraction + implant | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Keeps your natural tooth | Yes | No | No |
| Preserves jawbone at the site | Yes | No, bone resorbs | Partially, via the implant |
| Typical appointments | 2 to 4 | 1 | 4 to 8 over several months |
| Typical timeframe | 2 to 6 weeks | 1 visit | 4 to 9 months |
| Surgery required | No | Minor | Yes |
| Overall cost | Quoted in writing at assessment | Quoted in writing at assessment | Quoted in writing at assessment |
| Later consequences | Few if crowned | Drifting teeth, bone loss, bite change | Requires ongoing maintenance |
| Best suited to | A tooth with sound structure and healthy supporting bone | A tooth that cannot be saved, where a gap is acceptable | Replacing a tooth that had to be removed |
The highlighted option is root canal treatment, which we recommend wherever the tooth can be saved.
Note: the appointment range above includes the crown. Root canal treatment itself takes two to three appointments, and a crown adds a further two, so the combined range is two to five. The two to three appointments quoted elsewhere on this page refer to the root canal treatment alone.
10Aftercare
Three stages, from the drive home to the check-up twelve months later.
Numbness wears off over two to four hours. Avoid chewing on that side until sensation has fully returned. Mild tenderness when biting is normal and settles within a few days. Over-the-counter pain relief, taken as directed on the packaging, is usually sufficient.
A temporary filling caps the tooth. Avoid hard and sticky foods on that side. If the temporary filling comes out, telephone us. Do not wait until the next appointment, because an open canal can become reinfected.
Brush and floss the tooth as you would any other. A root-treated tooth has no nerve, so it cannot warn you with pain if decay develops beneath a crown. Regular check-ups are how we detect that.
You should not have lingering pain once treatment is complete. If pain persists after the tooth has been fully treated, an additional canal may have been missed. This is not something to tolerate. Tell us, and we will investigate or refer you to a specialist.
11Estimates and payment
We do not publish a price for root canal treatment, because no two teeth are the same and a figure quoted in advance would rarely match what you actually pay. You receive a written, itemised estimate at your assessment, before you consent to anything.
Payment options· Payment plans· DentiCare· Afterpay· National Dental Plan· Discounts and concessions· Preferred providers
12Find us
We are on Churnwood Drive, opposite the shopping centre, with parking and a ramp at the door.
9 Churnwood DriveFletcher NSW 2287
13Book an assessment
Send this through and reception will call you back. If you are in significant pain now, telephone us instead, as that is faster.
14FAQ
We numb the tooth thoroughly with local anaesthetic before starting, and confirm it is numb before proceeding further. The pain people associate with root canals is nearly always the toothache that preceded treatment, rather than the treatment itself. Most patients tell us afterwards that it was more comfortable than they had expected.
Usually two to three, each running 45 to 90 minutes. Molars with several canals may need more, while some straightforward front teeth can be completed in a single longer visit. The expected number appears in your written plan before treatment begins.
We do not publish a set price, because the cost depends on which tooth is treated, the number of canals, whether a supporting post is needed and whether a crown is fitted. You receive a written, itemised estimate at your assessment, showing the fee, your expected health-fund rebate and the gap you will pay, before you consent to treatment.
On back teeth, in almost every case. Once the pulp has been removed, the tooth becomes more brittle and more likely to crack. A crowned root-treated tooth generally lasts longer, and fitting one is the single most effective step in protecting what you have spent on the treatment.
Outcomes vary between patients. With good oral hygiene, regular check-ups and a protective crown, many treated teeth remain in function for a long period. Your dentist will discuss the likely outlook for your particular tooth.
Mild soreness for a few days is normal. Pain that continues after treatment is complete is not, and may indicate an additional canal requiring attention. Contact us. We will re-examine the tooth and refer you to an endodontist if specialist care is appropriate.
You can, and in some cases that is the better clinical decision. However, removal leaves a gap, the jawbone at that site begins to resorb, and the adjacent teeth start to drift. Replacing the tooth with an implant or bridge usually costs more overall than saving it. We will give you an honest recommendation for your specific tooth.
Yes. Local anaesthetic does not affect your ability to drive. Your lip and tongue will remain numb for two to four hours.
Have it checked regardless. Pain fading often means the nerve has died rather than that the infection has cleared, and the infection usually continues into the surrounding bone. This is one of the most commonly disregarded warning signs in dentistry.
Treating an active dental infection during pregnancy is generally considered safer than leaving it untreated. Tell us that you are pregnant and how far along you are, and we will adjust positioning, shielding and timing accordingly. Please bring any advice from your obstetrician or general practitioner.
Children’s teeth are treated differently, using methods suited to baby teeth and to adult teeth that are still developing. Eligible children may be covered under CDBS bulk billing.
Same-day care at Fletcher is available subject to availability and clinical urgency. Call (02) 4953 8614 and tell reception that you are in significant pain or have facial swelling. Facial swelling should always be treated as urgent.
Most extras policies contribute toward endodontic treatment, with the amount depending on your level of cover and your remaining annual limit. We are preferred providers for HCF, CBHS and Westfund, and we claim on site through HICAPS so that you pay only the gap.
The infection will not resolve on its own. It progresses out of the root tip into the surrounding bone, forming an abscess that damages the bone and eventually costs you the tooth. In rare cases, infection can spread into the tissues of the face and neck.
Do you have a tooth that throbs, reacts to hot drinks, or looks greyer than the rest? The sooner we examine it, the better your prospects of keeping it. Book an assessment at MS Dental Fletcher and Dr Shah’s team will review the X-ray with you, explain what is happening, and provide a written estimate before anything begins.
Root canal treatment in Fletcher is available Monday to Friday, at 9 Churnwood Drive. Onsite parking and ramp access are available.
9 Churnwood Drive, Fletcher NSW 2287 · Onsite parking · Ramp access
