If you've been told a tooth may need root canal treatment, bring your questions about the diagnosis, other options, risks and follow-up care to the consultation. Tell the dentist about your health conditions and medicines, and follow any instructions the clinic gives you for your appointment.
This is a guide to preparing for that conversation, not a way to decide for yourself which treatment you need. For the local service and appointment information, see root canal treatment at On Point Dental Floreat.
What should I tell the dentist about my tooth?
Explain where the pain is, when it started and whether anything makes it better or worse. Mention sensitivity to hot or cold, pain when biting and any swelling. Your dental and medical history also form part of assessing toothache.
It may help to write a few notes before you arrive. You don't need dental terminology: a description such as “the tooth at the back hurts when I bite” gives you a starting point for the discussion.
Don't postpone asking for care while you prepare a list. If you have severe tooth pain or swelling, make an urgent appointment with a dentist, as healthdirect advises.
What should I bring to the consultation?
Bring a current list of medicines and be ready to discuss any health conditions. Ask the clinic whether there are appointment-specific instructions you need to follow; preparation for a consultation is not necessarily the same as preparation for treatment.
Keep your questions somewhere you can refer to them during the visit. If another dentist has already discussed this tooth with you, ask the clinic beforehand what information it would like you to provide.
Which questions help explain the diagnosis?
At Floreat, the dentist examines the tooth and takes an X-ray to assess the problem and whether root canal treatment is appropriate. An assessment does not mean every damaged tooth can be retained; extraction may be recommended.
Start with the decision rather than the procedure:
- What have you found in this tooth, and can you show me on the X-ray?
- Why are you recommending this option for my tooth?
- What other options should I consider?
- What would delaying a decision mean in my circumstances?
Healthdirect explains that an untreated root canal infection can damage tissue around the tooth and may lead to the tooth needing removal. Ask about timing for your particular tooth rather than assuming that waiting is suitable.
What should I ask about risks and the next appointments?
Root canal treatment can require several appointments and a filling or crown afterwards. Complications can include recurrent infection, injury to the root, discolouration or a small instrument becoming stuck in a canal. Some teeth still need removal. Discuss these possibilities and the alternative of extraction with your dentist.
Useful questions to keep on your list include:
- How many visits do you expect, and what might change that plan?
- Will I need a filling or crown afterwards, and is that included in the written plan?
- What are the costs for each stage, including the final restoration?
- Who should I contact if I have concerns between visits?
If treatment is recommended, ask when you can return to work, what you can eat afterwards and what to do about discomfort. Follow the instructions given for your own care rather than someone else's treatment experience.
Where is the Floreat consultation?
On Point Dental Floreat is at 446 Cambridge St, Floreat WA 6014. The Floreat clinic page has location and appointment details. When arranging your visit, specify Floreat so that your appointment is made for the branch you intend to attend.
The clinic's team page identifies Jeetash Kumar as its principal dentist. You can also read about the dental team before your visit.
Write down the answer to your main concern before you leave. If something is unclear, ask the dentist to explain it again before deciding on treatment.
Sources and scope
General patient information, not a diagnosis or individual treatment plan. Clinical guidance and clinic details checked 12 November 2026. Authorship does not indicate a separate clinician review. The featured image is an AI-generated illustration, not a patient or a photograph of the Floreat clinic.
- healthdirect: Root canal treatment (reviewed February 2025).
- healthdirect: Toothache and gum swelling (reviewed February 2026).
- On Point Dental: Root canal treatment in Floreat.
- On Point Dental: Floreat location.
- On Point Dental: Meet the team.
