Root Canal Cost

Root canal therapy becomes necessary when the inner nerve of a tooth becomes affected by decay or infection. When this happens, the tooth may become extremely sensitive to both pressure and temperature, and intense pain can be expected. In the initial stages of decay and infection, it is possible that no symptoms would be present. However, in the advanced stages of decay and infection an abscess (pimple-like inflammation on the gums) will form.

When confronting this type of decay or infection, the patient has two options: pull the affected tooth or save the tooth through root canal therapy. When extracting a decayed or infected tooth, significant and costly dental problems will arise for adjacent teeth. In the end, tooth extraction may cause more problems than it will solve. Root canal therapy is a much more desirable alternative, as it will provide full functionality to the tooth and mouth, and will not cause any future problems with adjacent teeth.

Root canal procedure

When dental pain becomes unbearable, the cause is usually on the inside of the tooth. In this case, the dentist can make the diagnosis of an acute inflammation of the dental nerve (Pulpitis) and death (necrosis) of the nerve of the tooth. In this case it will be necessary to undertake a root canal procedure. Root canal therapy, also called endodontic treatment consists of cleaning and disinfecting the root canal. Inside a tooth, there is a duct system divided into several branches containing living tissue (pulp) consisting of nerves and vessels. The outer part protects the tooth. When the solid tooth is damaged or destroyed, the pulp may become inflamed. Typical signs of inflammation of the pulp are; dental pain when chewing, increased sensitivity to temperature, pain or swelling at the root of the tooth, and a grayish color of the crown of the tooth. Bacteria from untreated tooth decay, cracks or accidents are almost always involved.

One possible consequence is the destruction of the dental pulp, causing a “dead tooth”. When bacteria spreads to the inside of the tooth toward the jaw bone, our own body responds with an encapsulation (granuloma or cyst), or by the formation of pus at the tip of the root (abscess). It is essential to remove the infected pulp to prevent the spread of infection and abscess formation. Root canal treatment can save the tooth, because once the pulp is completely destroyed the only solution is to extract the tooth and fill the gap with dental implants, a bridge or a prosthesis. The most common question from patients is ‘do root canals hurt’. Root canal treatments are performed under local anesthesia and are not painful.

Reason for Root Canals

Root canal therapy becomes necessary when the inner nerve of a tooth becomes affected by decay or infection. When this happens, the tooth may become extremely sensitive to both pressure and temperature, and intense pain can be expected. In the initial stages of decay and infection, it is possible that no symptoms would be present. However, in the advanced stages of decay and infection an abscess (pimple-like inflammation on the gums) will form.

The reasons a dentist will recommend root canal therapy include the following:

• Decay has reached the tooth pulp (the living tissue inside the tooth)
• Development of infection or abscess inside the tooth or at the root tip
• Trauma or injury to the tooth

The restoration that root canal therapy provides will usually last a lifetime. It will provide full functionality back to your tooth and mouth. There may be a need in the future to retreat the tooth, but this would only be necessary if a new, separate infection arose.

Average Price of a Root Canal

Root Canals an extremely common procedure; unfortunately that does not mean they are inexpensive. The average price largely depends on the number of canals. Root canal costs start at $600 for anterior teeth with a single canal, and can range up to $1,400 for molars with four canals. Additionally, normally, you will also need a crown which generally doubles the price bringing the total to about $1,600.00 to $3,000.00 per tooth.

After treatment, the devitalized tooth may darken after a while. If the tooth exhibits discoloration problems, the normal appearance can be recreated using one of several teeth whitening treatments. After root canal treatment it is best to restore the tooth with a crown to strengthen it. The root canal can cause sensitivities for a few days when chewing that will disappear spontaneously. The tooth will now be deprived of its sensitivity to cold, but does not lose its perception of chewing as the ligament that attaches the tooth to the bone is still alive. It is important for the patient to understand that devitalized teeth will continue to decay and must be cleaned in the same way as the other teeth, several times a day with fluoride toothpaste.

Can’t I just Get Dental Insurance to Pay for the Root Canal?

Unfortunately, if you don’t already have Dental Insurance – you probably will not be able to get an insurance company to pay for your root canal anytime soon, because of normal exclusions and waiting periods that are common in Policies.

But let’s take a look at Insurance.

If you do have insurance you may find that you are still in for a large dental bill.

Most Insurance Companies sell what is known as ”100-80-50″ coverage. What this means 100% is covered on all preventative and diagnostic dental care; 80% for fillings, root canals, and other basic procedures; and 50% for bridges, crowns, and major procedures.

A long story short, once you factor in all the deductibles, maximum coverages, exclusions, etc. You could very well still be paying about 70% of the total bill.