What Is Root Canal Therapy?

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The roots of your teeth are extremely important, and an infection of the root of a tooth is serious. This may be caused by tooth decay becoming so bad that it actually causes an infection of the pulp of the tooth. You also may have damaged a tooth and because you didn’t resolve the issue quickly, bacteria spread. This leads to the same problem—an infection of the root of your tooth.

Whatever the reason may be, if the root of your tooth is infected, you’ll need root canal therapy to resolve the issue.

What Is Root Canal Therapy?

Root canal therapy is a dental procedure in which a dentist removes the infection from a tooth’s root. This will prevent further damage that may lead to the need for a tooth extraction. It also will help to alleviate the pain that is being caused by the infection.

Some of the signs to look for to determine if you have a root infection include:

·       Tooth sensitivity

·       Pain and discomfort

·       Discoloration of the infected tooth

·       Pain while eating

·       Swelling of the gums surrounding the tooth

If you notice any of these symptoms, set an appointment with your dentist at Nova Dental so they can take a look. Don’t wait until your next cleaning and checkup, as the issue can progress during that time.

The Root Canal Therapy Process

The process of root canal therapy (also known as a “root canal”) begins with a trip to the dentist once you’ve experienced any of the symptoms discussed above. They will take a look at the tooth to determine the extent of the damage. If the tooth decay is minor, they may clean it and install a filling. If the root of the tooth is infected, though, they’ll need to perform root canal therapy. Expect your dentist to tap on your teeth and perform a cold test. If your tooth is unhealthy, the cold will linger for a period of time.

Before your root canal begins, your dentist will use anesthetics to ensure you don’t feel pain. A rubber dam will be placed for your safety. At this point, your dentist will begin removing the tooth decay. Once the tooth is cleaned and disinfected, a rubber material will be placed in the tooth. After that, a filling is placed.

There are a lot of myths surrounding root canals—primarily that they are extremely painful. With advances in dental technology, this isn’t the case anymore. There is nothing to worry about when it comes to your root canal.

The procedure will be completed most likely in one appointment but may take as many as two appointments to complete.

Remember: the first step is a trip to the dentist. If you are feeling pain or discomfort around a tooth, schedule an appointment with Nova Dental today!

Preventing Root Canal Therapy

While root canal therapy is a safe and effective procedure, it’s best to avoid a root canal entirely. In order to do this, you need to make sure you are taking proper care of your oral health. This means brushing, flossing, and rinsing twice a day, every day. On top of this, you need to visit your dentist twice a year for a cleaning and checkup.

If you are experiencing pain or discomfort, set an appointment between visits. You may have a cavity or an infection of the root of a tooth. If you damage your tooth, don’t wait around for the bacteria to infect your tooth! Instead, set an appointment for the tooth to be cleaned and repaired.

If your dentist finds a cavity during one of your visits, schedule an appointment as soon as you can. Don’t wait around for the cavity to become worse and eventually lead to root infection.

Prevention is the most effective way to fight root canal infection. If your roots do become infected, though, reach out to Nova Dental so we can perform root canal therapy. This can mean the difference between a repaired, healthy tooth and a tooth extraction!

Cost of Root Canal Therapy

There are a few factors that go into the cost of root canal therapy. One major factor is dental insurance. Root canals are pretty common procedures, so they are likely at least partially covered by your dental insurance. To learn more about your coverage, check your insurance plan or contact your dental insurance provider.

You may have to pay out of pocket. If this is the case, expect to pay around $750 to $1,200 per tooth. While this may seem like a steep price, it’s much better than allowing the tooth infection to get so bad that the tooth needs to be extracted. You will also rack up more dental bills in the future if the problem isn’t addressed. An extracted tooth leads to shifting and damage of surrounding teeth. This, in turn, means more costly repairs.

Don’t allow your oral health issues to get worse. Catch them and repair them early to not only save your teeth, gums, and jawbone, but also to save yourself some money.

If you have any questions about the cost of a root canal procedure, contact Nova Dental. We’d be happy to discuss the procedure and the costs with you.

Speak with Your Dentist

If you are experiencing pain and discomfort with a tooth, don’t wait around. Contact Nova Dental today. We’ll be able to take a look at the tooth and determine the issue. From there, we can put a plan in place to repair the tooth. If you don’t have a regularly scheduled cleaning and checkup in the books, make sure you call Nova Dental and schedule one. Prevention is the best way to fight a root infection! We’ll clean your teeth and gums thoroughly, and check your teeth, gums, and jawbone for any oral health issues. This allows us to catch those issues and treat them early.

We look forward to hearing from you and getting an appointment in the books.

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