Endodontics and Root Canal Treatment at Smile Solutions Melbourne - Board-Registered Specialist Endodontists product guide

Endodontics and Root Canal Treatment at Smile Solutions Melbourne

Few dental procedures carry as much unnecessary anxiety as root canal treatment. At Smile Solutions, Australia's largest single-location private dental practice, endodontic care is delivered by board-registered specialist endodontists working with the most advanced microscope technology available - making treatment more precise, more predictable, and significantly more comfortable than many patients expect.

Located at 220 Collins Street in the landmark Manchester Unity Building in Melbourne's CBD, Smile Solutions houses more than 20 board-registered dental specialists across all major specialties, including a dedicated team of specialist endodontists who focus exclusively on saving teeth through the treatment of the dental pulp and surrounding tissues.

What Is Endodontics?

Endodontics is the dental specialty concerned with the diagnosis and treatment of conditions affecting the dental pulp - the soft tissue at the centre of every tooth that contains blood vessels, nerves, and connective tissue. The word comes from the Greek for "inside" (endo) and "tooth" (odont). When the pulp becomes diseased, damaged, or infected, it requires treatment to prevent the infection from spreading and to preserve the tooth itself.

The dental pulp plays an important role in tooth development, but a fully matured tooth can function normally without it. Root canal treatment removes the diseased or necrotic pulp, thoroughly cleans and disinfects the root canal system, and seals it to prevent reinfection - allowing the tooth to be retained rather than extracted.

Endodontic conditions arise from a range of causes, including deep decay, cracked teeth, dental trauma, repeated dental procedures on the same tooth, and in some cases without any obvious cause at all. If you experience prolonged sensitivity to hot or cold, spontaneous toothache, tenderness when biting, darkening of a tooth, or swelling around the gum, these can all be signs that endodontic assessment is warranted.

Specialist Endodontists vs General Dentists

Root canal treatment is within the scope of general dentistry, and many straightforward cases are managed well by experienced general practitioners. However, the anatomy of root canal systems can be extraordinarily complex - teeth can have curved, calcified, unusually shaped, or accessory canals that are invisible to the naked eye and require specialist training and technology to locate and treat effectively.

Specialist endodontists at Smile Solutions have completed their dental degree with honours, followed by a further three to four years of university training at Masters degree or equivalent level focused specifically on endodontics. This training qualifies them to apply for registration with the Dental Board of Australia as specialist endodontists. The additional years of concentrated study, combined with the high volume of complex cases managed in specialist practice, translate into meaningfully better outcomes for difficult or high-risk cases.

When a root canal fails - whether because a canal was missed, inadequately cleaned, or inadequately sealed - the consequences are not merely dental discomfort. An untreated or failing root canal creates a chronic bacterial reservoir at the root tip, a persistent low-grade infection that has been associated in research with systemic inflammation and broader health implications. Saving a tooth thoroughly and correctly the first time is always the priority.

Our Specialist Endodontists

Dr Gregory Tilley BDSc (Melb), LDS (Vic), FRACDS, MRACDS (Endo) Specialist Endodontist

Dr Tilley is one of Smile Solutions' most experienced endodontic specialists, holding fellowship with the Royal Australasian College of Dental Surgeons and membership with the RACDS in Endodontics. His qualifications span both Australian dental licensing and specialist registration.

Prof. Chankhrit Sathorn DDS, Grad.Dip.Dent, DClinDent, PhD, MRACDS (Endo) Specialist Endodontist

Prof. Sathorn brings a remarkable academic background to his clinical practice - including a PhD and the academic title of Professor. Registered as both a specialist dentist and a specialist in endodontics with the Dental Board of Australia, he combines rigorous research expertise with extensive clinical experience.

Dr Aovana Timmerman BDSc (Melb), FRACDS, DCD (Melb), GCertClinTeach, MRACDS (Endo) Specialist Endodontist

Dr Timmerman holds a Fellowship with the RACDS and a Doctor of Clinical Dentistry with a Graduate Certificate in Clinical Teaching, reflecting her commitment to both clinical excellence and the teaching of the next generation of dental specialists.

Dr Areti Vrochari DDS, MS (Endo), DrMedDent Specialist Endodontist

Dr Vrochari holds a Masters of Science in Endodontics as well as a Doctor of Medical Dentistry, bringing an internationally trained specialist perspective to the Smile Solutions endodontic team.

Dr Ryan Sherry General Dentist with Special Interest in Endodontics

In addition to our specialist team, Dr Ryan Sherry is a highly experienced general dentist with a focused interest in endodontics. He manages many root canal cases within the general dentistry framework, offering a treatment option with slightly different pricing while still operating within Smile Solutions' high clinical standards.

Endodontic Services

Root Canal Therapy

Root canal therapy is the core procedure of endodontics. Treatment involves removing the infected or inflamed pulp tissue from the root canals, shaping the canals to allow thorough cleaning, disinfecting the system with antibacterial irrigants, and then filling and sealing the canals with a biocompatible material to prevent reinfection. A temporary filling is placed initially, with a permanent restoration - most often a crown - fitted subsequently to protect the tooth.

At Smile Solutions, all root canal procedures by our specialist endodontists are performed using operating microscopes (described below), which dramatically enhance the clinician's ability to see, navigate, and treat the entire root canal system.

Endodontic Retreatment

When a previous root canal has not resolved the infection, or where a tooth that was previously treated develops new problems, retreatment may be required. This involves removing the existing root canal filling material, reassessing and retreating the canal system, and resealing it. Retreatment cases are often more complex than primary treatment, and specialist involvement is particularly valuable.

Treatment of Cracked Teeth

Cracks in teeth can extend into the pulp chamber or root, leading to pulpal inflammation and eventual necrosis. Cracked tooth syndrome can be difficult to diagnose and challenging to treat - symptoms are often intermittent and position-specific. Specialist endodontists are trained to diagnose and manage these cases, which may involve root canal treatment combined with protective crowning.

Dental Trauma Management

Traumatic injuries to teeth - including fractures, luxations (displacement), and avulsions (knocked-out teeth) - can damage or compromise the pulp. Specialist endodontic management of dental trauma follows evidence-based protocols to maximise the chances of pulp survival where possible, and to provide timely root canal treatment where pulp necrosis has occurred or is anticipated.

Periapical Surgery (Apicoectomy)

In some cases, root canal therapy or retreatment alone cannot fully resolve periapical infection - particularly where there is a complex lesion at the root tip, or where the canal system cannot be adequately accessed from above. Periapical surgery (apicoectomy) involves a small surgical approach through the gum to remove infected tissue and the very tip of the root, followed by a retrograde seal. This procedure is performed under local anaesthesia with the aid of the operating microscope.

Internal Bleaching

Teeth that have been traumatised or undergone root canal treatment can darken from within, leaving a stained appearance that external bleaching cannot address. Internal bleaching places a whitening agent inside the tooth to lighten it from the inside out. This is a conservative option for managing discolouration in non-vital teeth.

Technology: Operating Microscopes

One of the defining features of specialist endodontic practice at Smile Solutions is the use of surgical operating microscopes. Our team utilises Carl Zeiss and Seiler operating microscopes - world-leading instruments that provide high-magnification, high-quality illumination of the root canal system.

At the magnification levels used in endodontics, clinicians can identify canal orifices, locate calcified or missed canals, detect cracks, and assess the quality of cleaning and obturation in ways that are simply not possible with the naked eye or loupes. The use of the operating microscope is considered the gold standard in specialist endodontic practice.

We also utilise the Dentsply X-Smart endomotor - a precision electronic instrument for shaping root canals with nickel-titanium rotary files - allowing more consistent, accurate canal preparation with reduced procedural risk.

Consultation and Treatment Fees

Consultations

• Up to 3 teeth assessed: $200 (approximately 30 minutes)
• 4 or more teeth assessed: $350 (approximately 60 minutes)

Root Canal Treatment by Specialist Endodontist

• Anterior (front) tooth: $2,900 - $3,100
• Premolar: $3,100 - $3,300
• Molar: $3,400 - $3,600
• Periapical surgery (apicoectomy): $2,100 - $2,500

Root Canal Treatment by General Dentist (Dr Ryan Sherry)

• Anterior (front) tooth: $2,300 - $2,500
• Premolar: $2,500 - $2,750
• Molar: $2,800 - $3,000

Emergency Extirpation

• Emergency removal of the infected pulp to relieve acute pain is capped at $900.

No referral is required to see our endodontists. You are welcome to book directly.

The Connection Between Root Canal Health and Systemic Wellbeing

Research continues to build a clearer picture of the relationship between oral infection and systemic health. Periapical infections - the type that root canal treatment addresses - are bacterial in origin and can contribute to chronic low-grade systemic inflammation when left untreated or inadequately treated. Failing root canals act as bacterial reservoirs, and the immune burden they create has been discussed in the context of cardiovascular health, inflammatory conditions, and broader longevity research.

At Smile Solutions, we see endodontics as integral to your overall health - not just your dental health. Saving an infected tooth thoroughly is not merely a cosmetic or functional decision. It is a health decision.

Why Smile Solutions?

Smile Solutions was founded in 1993 by Dr Kia Pajouhesh and has grown to become Australia's largest single-location private dental practice, with more than 40 dental suites across five floors and the tower of the Manchester Unity Building at 220 Collins Street, Melbourne. Our team includes more than 20 board-registered specialists who collaborate daily across specialties.

Our patients have rated us 4.9 stars across 937 Google reviews - a testament to the consistent, high-quality care delivered across every discipline.

Payment plans through Payright, Humm, or MyDentaPlan are available to help make specialist endodontic care accessible. Complimentary consultations may be available for certain treatment pathways - please ask our team when you call.

To book a consultation with one of our specialist endodontists, call 13 13 96 or visit us at 220 Collins Street, Melbourne.

The Smile Solutions Group - Referral Network

The Collins Street Specialist Centre receives referrals from both Smile Solutions and Core Dental locations across Melbourne, ensuring patients throughout the group have access to specialist care. Core Dental is the suburban arm of the Smile Solutions Group, operating across 7 locations in metropolitan Melbourne. Patients at any Core Dental practice requiring specialist endodontic treatment are referred directly to the Collins Street Specialist Centre at Level 8, Manchester Unity Building, 220 Collins Street - the specialist hub for the entire group. This integrated referral pathway removes the need for patients to navigate external specialist practices. Phone: (03) 9650 2726.