If tooth decay reaches the point where the pulp inside the tooth has become infected, sometimes the only way to keep your smile whole is with root canal therapy at Texas Dentistry in Mesquite. You might have heard that root canals are very painful, but this is inaccurate; the procedure actually relieves discomfort from a toothache and can prevent the need for an extraction. If you’ve been suffering from severe dental pain, call us as soon as possible.
While the term is usually referred to the surgery much of the time, root canals are actually small areas inside the tooth that contain the pulp, which contains many nerves. If the tooth becomes badly decayed, the pulp can be infected, resulting in severe pain.
Root canal therapy is an advanced treatment that removes the infected pulp and nerves, thus stopping the pain. The tooth can function normally without the pulp; it’ll lose its sensitivity, but other than that it won’t have any negative effect on your oral health. It will, however, stop the infection from spreading to other parts of the body and causing further damage.
In most cases, root canal therapy is necessary for patients who are suffering from a painful dental emergency. Some of the warning signs of an infection that a root canal might need to treat include:
The only way for us to know for sure whether you need root canal therapy is with a thorough examination.
After the area around the affected tooth has been numbed, we’ll make a small access hole in the tooth before using a dental file to remove the pulp and nerve structure. Afterwards, we’ll clean the inside of the tooth and, once it’s free of decay, refill it with a biocompatible substance. The last step is to reseal the access hole. In many cases, you’ll also get a dental crown to strengthen and protect the tooth. The number of appointments necessary to complete your root canal therapy depends on the severity of the situation.
Have you been told that you may need a root canal to preserve your smile? While this procedure may be essential for your oral health, it’s important to know how much you’ll be expected to pay for the treatment. Several factors can influence the overall price of a root canal, so there won’t be a fixed fee to consider. To have a more precise estimate of how much the procedure will be, you’ll need to schedule a visit with our team. We’ll walk you through the process, the overall price, and your financing options to make the treatment a stress-free experience. Read on to learn more about the cost of a root canal in Mesquite.
Our team won’t be able to determine the exact price of your treatment until we’ve had the chance to assess your dental situation. However, certain factors can impact the cost, including:
While it might seem cheaper and more convenient to simply extract your decayed or damaged tooth, you’ll still have to consider the long-term costs of skipping a root canal. Not only will this affect your bite and increase the likelihood of your remaining teeth shifting out of place, but you’ll also need to replace it with a restoration option later on. Although there are plenty of reliable tooth replacement solutions, such as bridges and dental implants, this will inevitably add to the overall costs. To avoid needing to rebuild your smile and spend more money, it’s better to undergo root canal therapy to save your natural tooth.
Since root canal therapy is considered a major restorative procedure, you might be able to expect your dental insurance to cover about 50-80% of the cost of your treatment (after meeting your annual deductible). That said, every plan varies from patient to patient, so you’ll need to double-check the details of your policy with your insurance provider before starting any work. At Texas Dentistry and Braces, our team is proud to work with multiple dental insurance companies, and we’ll be more than happy to help you navigate your plan to maximize your coverage.
Even if you don’t have dental insurance, it doesn’t mean you’ll be completely left on your own. Our team offers an in-house membership that can give you discounts on all services with one flat annual fee, including root canal therapy. We are also partnered with CareCredit—a third-party financier that can break up the cost of your procedure into monthly installments. These plans can also come with little-to-no interest, meaning you won’t have to worry about breaking the bank to afford the necessary treatments for your smile.
Despite the best efforts of dentists worldwide, root canals still have a bad reputation. You might be surprised to learn that many of the rumors you’ve heard about the procedure simply aren’t true. Nonetheless, it’s completely normal to have a few questions about root canal therapy, but you shouldn’t worry. We’ve answered some of our most frequently asked questions about root canals to put your mind at ease.
You may have heard horror stories about root canals, but the truth is that these stories are often exaggerated or happened before modern technological advancements in dentistry made the procedure a whole lot easier. These days, getting a root canal is no more uncomfortable than getting a filling. To ensure you’re thoroughly comfortable during the procedure, we will completely numb the area with a local anesthetic. We can even provide sedation to soothe your nerves if need be.
When your tooth is in severe pain, it may seem like the best option is to simply extract it. However, doing so can lead to some serious complications for your oral health and quality of life.
Each and every one of your teeth is essential to your oral health. When even just one is missing, you’ll experience problems beneath the surface of your gums, such as losing density in your jawbone. This can cause your facial muscles to droop, making you appear older than you really are. Additionally, the rest of your teeth will shift to try and fill in the gap, resulting in an increased risk for problems like cavities, gum disease, and further tooth loss. You’ll also need to replace your missing tooth with a bridge or dental implant, which can be expensive.
Ultimately, the best thing for your oral health is to get a root canal whenever possible to save your tooth from an extraction. Teeth that are treated with root canal therapy often go on to last the rest of a patient’s life.
There isn’t one set cost for a root canal because every patient is different. The cost of your treatment will depend on a few factors, like the location of the problem tooth and what material your crown or filling will be made of. During your consultation, we’ll go over these factors and discuss how much you’ll end up paying. The good news is that most dental insurance plans cover at least a significant portion of the cost of a root canal.
Even though it can be inconvenient to schedule a dental procedure that can take up to two hours, you shouldn’t put off a root canal if you need one. If you delay getting the treatment you need, your tooth might end up needing to be extracted later on. To save your tooth, it’s best to schedule your needed root canal as soon as possible to prevent the infection from worsening.
I Need a Checkup & Cleaning I am Looking for a Dentist for My Child I Want to Enhance My Smile I Need Immediate/Emergency Help I Have a Cavity or Broken Tooth I am Missing One or More Teeth I Would Like a Straighter Smile I am Nervous/Afraid of the Dentist I am Concerned About Bleeding Gums View Our Services