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How Much Does A Root Canal Treatment Cost?
The root canal is a procedure in which the dentist drills an access hole into your tooth and removes all of the infected pulp tissues and dead nerves from your tooth. Most people consider the root canal to be an oral surgery, but it’s actually a fairly simple and minimally-invasive procedure since there are no incisions or cuts made on the surrounding gum tissues or bone structure. Root canals are basically a more advanced form of dental filling. However, root canals are extremely important, and they’re often a last-resort situation to prevent complete tooth loss.
The need for a root canal indicates that bacterial infection has spread to your pulp chamber, i.e., the innermost part of your tooth’s anatomy. If you wait much longer, the infection may also spread to the tooth’s root and eventually infect the surrounding teeth and bone tissues, which will necessitate tooth extraction and may lead to other dental issues and health concerns like an abscessed tooth, cardiovascular issues, and other problems. As such, root canals are an extremely important procedure. One of the biggest concerns people have about root canals is the cost involved. The cost of dental treatments can be pretty high and a source of considerable consternation. In this article, we discuss how much does a root canal cost with and without dental insurance coverage.
What is the cost of high-quality root canal treatment?
The cost of a high-quality root canal varies based on your location and the teeth in need of a root canal. The cost of a root canal on molars is a lot more expensive than bicuspids and front teeth. The difference in cost may either be because of access issues or because of the number of root canals in the tooth. For example, the front teeth only have one root canal, while the back teeth have up to three root canals.
The following is an overview of the cost of high-quality root canals cost for different teeth:
- The cost of a root canal on front teeth ranges from $300 to $1,500.
- The cost of a root canal on bicuspids ranges from $400 to $1,800.
- The cost of a root canal on molars ranges from $500 to $2,000.
The cost of a high-quality root canal includes an x-ray and the root canal procedure. However, you may also be charged additional costs for follow-up visits, the cost of a dental crown, or dental fillings. The cost of follow-up appointments may range from $50 to $100, while the cost of tooth crowns can be anything from $300 to $3,000, depending on the location of the crown and the material used.
As you can see, by the end of the complete treatment, the overall cost of the root canal may be pretty high. That’s why it’s crucial to consider dental insurance coverage. While dental insurance generally covers 100% of routine procedures like professional cleaning, they generally cover only about 50% of the cost of major dental treatments like a root canal. Furthermore, some dental insurances also have a waiting period, i.e., you need to have dental insurance for a certain amount of time before you can avail of dental insurance for root canals.
Some people are tempted to put off root canals until they get full coverage on their dental insurance. However, that’s a terrible idea because dental decay and bacterial infection progress rapidly. If you don’t get a root canal promptly, you may eventually need a dental extraction. In worst-case situations, putting off the root canal may also lead to a full-body infection, which can lead to diabetes, heart attacks, a stroke, or even death.
What is to be expected when getting a root canal?
During the root canal procedure, the dentist will drill an access hole into your tooth and remove all of the infected pulp tissues and dead nerves. You can expect a lot of drilling and filing sounds as the dentist eventually clears out the insides of the tooth. After the procedure, you can also expect the dentist to recommend a dental crown to protect the weakened tooth from further infections or damage.
What happens during a root canal?
The following is an overview of what happens during a root canal at a local dentist:
- The dentist or endodontist will use x-rays to examine the damage and infection in your tooth.
- The dentist will place a dental dam around your tooth to isolate it and protect it from saliva interference.
- The dentist will drill an access hole on the crown to access the pulp chamber and root canal.
- The dentist will use dental files to remove all of the infected pulp tissues and dead nerves. They’ll also flush out all of the debris using water or a sodium hypochlorite solution.
- Once space is cleaned, the dentist will use a material called gutta-percha to seal the hollowed inside. This may be done immediately, or it may be done after the dentist applies some disinfectant and has you wait for a week.
- The dentist will place a dental filling to seal the access hole.
- Finally, the dentist near me will recommend you get a dental crown over the tooth. This isn’t necessary, but it will reduce your risk of infections and dental injury.
How safe is the root canal?
Root canals are a completely safe and necessary procedure. There’s no risk of side effects or complications, and they prevent the spread of bacterial infection, thus saving your tooth and preventing various major dental problems and health issues.
Schedule Affordable Emergency Dental Care Today
URBN Dental is one of the best dental offices near me in Houston, TX. We have some of the best board-certified Emergency dentists who only recommend root canals if there’s no other way of saving your tooth. For more information, please schedule your affordable emergency dental care today.
Summary:
The root canal is a procedure in which the dentist drills an access hole into your tooth and removes all of the infected pulp tissues and dead nerves from your tooth. Root canals are extremely important, and they’re often a last-resort situation to prevent complete tooth loss. The need for a root canal indicates that bacterial infection has spread to your pulp chamber, i.e., the innermost part of your tooth’s anatomy. The cost of a high-quality root canal varies based on your location and the teeth in need of a root canal. The cost of a root canal on front teeth ranges from $300 to $1,500. The cost of a root canal on bicuspids ranges from $400 to $1,800. The cost of a root canal on molars ranges from $500 to $2,000. URBN Dental is one of the best dental places near me in Houston, TX. For more information, please schedule your affordable emergency dental care today.