In the past, if you had a tooth with a diseased nerve, you would probably lose that tooth. Today, with a special dental procedure called root canal treatment, your tooth can be saved. Root canal treatment in Selbyville is a relatively simple procedure involving one to three dental office visits. Best of all, having a root canal when necessary can save your tooth and your smile!
What Is the Purpose of Root Canal Treatment?
A tooth's nerve is not vitally important to a tooth's health and function after the tooth has emerged through the gums. Its only function is sensory – to provide the sensation of hot or cold. The presence or absence of a nerve will not affect the day-to-day functioning of the tooth.
When a tooth is cracked or has a deep cavity, bacteria can enter the pulp tissue and germs can cause an infection inside the tooth. If left untreated, an abscess may form. If the infected tissue is not removed, pain and swelling can result. This can not only injure your jawbones, but it is detrimental to your overall health. Without the proper treatment, your tooth may have to be removed.
What Are the Signs That Root Canal Treatment Is Needed?
Teeth that require root canal treatment do not always hurt. However, signs you may need a root canal include severe toothache, pain upon chewing or application of pressure, prolonged sensitivity or pain in response to hot and cold temperatures, a dark discoloration of the tooth, and swelling and tenderness in the nearby gums. If you experience any of these symptoms, contact our dentists at Kramer Dental.
What Happens During a Root Canal?
Root canal treatment involves one to three visits. During treatment, your general dentist or endodontist (a dentist who specializes in problems with the nerves of the teeth) removes the affected tissue. Next, the interior of the tooth will be cleaned and sealed. Finally, the tooth is filled with a dental composite. If your tooth had extensive decay, your doctor may suggest placing a crown to strengthen and protect the tooth from breakage. As long as you continue to care for your teeth and gums with regular brushing, flossing, and checkups, your restored tooth can last a lifetime.
Understanding the Cost of Root Canals
Root canals already have a bad reputation, but it often gets worse when the price comes up. If you're dealing with a painful or infected tooth, a root canal can help you find relief, so it's generally worth it for peace of mind and the removal of pain. But what does a root canal actually cost? Below, our team breaks down what typically affects the cost of root canal treatment in Selbyville, so you can feel prepared going into your visit.
Factors That Can Affect Root Canal Cost
Because every tooth and every patient's needs are different, it's nearly impossible to provide a reliable cost estimate without seeing you first. A few of the most common factors that influence pricing include:
Tooth Location: Molars have more canals and tend to be more complex to treat than front teeth, which can affect cost.gh
Severity of Infection: More extensive infection or damage may require additional time and care to fully resolve.
Number of Visits: Some cases are completed in one visit, while others require two or three.
Restoration Needs: If your tooth needs a crown afterward to restore strength, that will add to the total cost.
Our team will always walk you through every step and give you a transparent estimate before any treatment begins.
Is It Cheaper to Extract My Tooth?
In the short term? Yes—extractions are typically less expensive upfront than root canal treatment. However, this doesn't account for the effects of time on the extraction area. The true cost can grow much larger than if you'd simply had the root canal from the start.
A missing tooth often leads to shifting teeth, bone loss, and the need for a replacement like an implant or bridge, which usually costs significantly more than the root canal would have. Saving your natural tooth whenever possible is almost always the most cost-effective choice in the long run.
Does Dental Insurance Cover Root Canals?
In most cases, yes. Dental insurance typically covers root canal treatment as a major service, often at 50% to 80% after your deductible, though coverage varies by plan. Roughly half of our patients carry dental insurance, so we have a lot of experience helping people understand their benefits. We're also happy to file claims on your behalf, so you get the most out of any coverage you may have.
Other Options for Making Root Canal Treatment Affordable
If insurance doesn't cover enough of your procedure, or if you're currently uninsured, our practice offers CareCredit financing to help make treatment more manageable. CareCredit lets you break up the cost of your root canal into smaller monthly payments, often with little to no interest for qualifying patients.
Since dental plans vary, it’s important to read through the fine print on yours to familiarize yourself with your benefits. With that said, many providers do cover a portion of the cost of essential restorative care, including root canals. Plus, if you are insured, you can break up the price into smaller, more manageable chunks with CareCredit! As a result, we are able to help patients with a variety of different budgets get the dental care they need without the financial stress.
Can root canals be prevented?
Root canals are largely preventable, yes. That’s why we’re always encouraging our patients to prioritize healthy habits, like brushing each morning and evening, flossing daily, and scheduling a dental cleaning every six months. It’s also important to avoid chewing on ice cubes, using your teeth as tools, and similar habits that could jeopardize your oral health.
Important reminder: If you start to experience a dull, persistent ache or a sharp, stabbing pain, don’t wait – contact our team at Kramer Dental. From there, we can determine if a cavity has developed and, if that’s the case, treat it before it gets any worse.
Why do I need a root canal if my tooth doesn’t hurt?
Oftentimes, dental damage is accompanied by persistent dental sensitivity, pain when biting down, and other abnormal symptoms. However, it is possible for cavities to develop and progress under the radar. That’s one of the reasons why scheduling a dental exam every six months is so important! During your routine visits, we examine your teeth, your gums, and the soft tissue in your mouth, looking for decay, infection, and damage in the process. If we find anything concerning, then we can catch (and treat) it in the early stages.
How much pain is normal after a root canal?
Remember, your mouth will be thoroughly numbed before the procedure, so you won’t feel any pain during your root canal. Once you regain sensation in your mouth after you return home, however, it’s normal to experience some soreness and discomfort. To help, our Selbyville dental team will provide you with a list of aftercare instructions, like rinsing with warm saltwater periodically, not eating anything spicy, and taking OTC pain medication as directed.
Do root canals make you sick?
There are a few popular myths about root canals, including that they can lead to illness. This stems from the 1920s. At the time, a dentist named Dr. Weston Price claimed that not all of the bacteria were removed during a root canal, so it was better to pull the tooth. However, his research was poorly designed, and his claims have been debunked for several decades now.
If you have read anything about root canals online or heard something from a loved one that concerns you, don’t hesitate to let us know. We’d be happy to answer questions and ease concerns to ensure that you feel confident moving forward with the treatment plan we’ve created.
