Contrary to popular belief, root canal therapy is designed to get you out of discomfort, not cause it. In fact, this treatment is incredibly effective at not just relieving pain, but also at saving a natural tooth. In the past, your only option would have been to extract the tooth outright. Instead, we can make sure that your tooth stays intact so you can avoid the need for expensive tooth replacements later. If your tooth is experiencing severe discomfort, give our dental office a call today to request an appointment.
Root canal therapy is often necessary when damage or decay affects the innermost layer of a tooth, called the pulp. Here are some signs that you may need this treatment:
Also, keep in mind that in some cases, root canal therapy is necessary even when no pain or other obvious symptoms are present. If Dr. Friedland recommends this procedure for you, you can be confident that he is interested in protecting your oral health and sparing you from future discomfort.
During your root canal therapy, you’ll be given local anesthetic to remove all discomfort during the procedure. Most patients note that it feels comparable to receiving a dental filling. You’ll also be given sedation if requested. During the procedure, we’ll create a small access hole in the top portion of your crown, then use it to reach decayed and damaged pulp inside your tooth. After removing decay as well as irrigating and shaping the canal, we’ll place filler material to replace the pulp and prevent future infections from developing. Finally, a permanent crown is placed on top to cover the access hole and fortify your tooth.
Root canal therapy offers several benefits to patients:
Whatever you may have thought, the cost of root canals varies by patient. You’ll ultimately need to consult Dr. Friedland if you want a precise estimate. Once you have, our team will work tirelessly to ensure your care is affordable. We can even outline your treatment’s cost factors, the role of insurance, and various helpful payment options. For further details, please keep reading or call us directly to hear more over the phone.
To confirm your treatment’s price, we’ll first have to assess your tooth. Doing so lets us check (among other things) factors that affect root canal cost, including:
While it has a lower upfront price, a tooth extraction isn’t the most cost-effective option. This treatment incurs more long-term expenses than a root canal would.
Tooth loss – regardless of cause – always has harsh side effects. Left unchecked, it results in smile gaps that tilt your other teeth, worsen your bite, and house harmful bacteria. This condition can also increase your risk of cavities and gum disease, as well as further tooth loss. Needless to say, fixing such problems would involve some hefty costs.
Luckily enough, root canals don’t cause side effects. They just save and maintain the treated teeth, helping you avoid pricey dental work later. You should thus get one before an extraction becomes your only option.
You can typically trust dental insurance to cover a root canal. Most plans see the latter as a medically necessary service, so they meet anywhere from 50% to 80% of its final cost. This arrangement assumes you’ve met your deductible and have suitable benefits, though.
On the other hand, exceptions to the facts above also exist. Your policy may not cover root canals, or perhaps its cover its quite limited. You should thus confirm your benefits before you make any financial commitments.
Though dental insurance is great, it isn’t the only way to make a root canal affordable. You can also rely on our practice’s helpful payment options. With the right one, your treatment won’t “break the bank.”
A good example would be our CareCredit financing program. Through this option, you’d pay for your root canal in small, monthly installments instead of a lump sum. Each of these payments would also involve little to no interest, keeping your costs relatively low.
Your root canal shouldn’t put you in the red. To make it affordable, just visit us – we’ll make your care budget-friendly!
