Root Canal Therapy – Edmond, OK
We Can Save Your Infected Tooth
If a tooth has become badly decayed, sometimes your best hope of saving it is with root canal therapy. Dr. Crowley can use this procedure to get rid of infected tissues and stop the damage from spreading any further; he’ll also make sure your tooth is brought back to full strength with a filling or crown afterwards. If you have a toothache that won’t go away, it may be time to contact Bluff Creek Dental and schedule an appointment for root canal therapy in Edmond, OK.
Why Do I Need a Root Canal?
The bacteria in your mouth can eat any sugar you consume and secrete it as acid that gradually wears down your enamel. Sooner or later, if this decay isn’t stopped, the bacteria will enter the tooth and infect the pulp inside. In most cases, this will cause persistent pain, and an abscess (a pus-filled pocket) will eventually form. The infection will eventually spread to other parts of the body if it’s not stopped.
A root canal in Edmond is often the only way to save an infected tooth; if the procedure isn’t performed, you’ll likely need an extraction instead. You can replace a tooth that’s been removed, but if you want to maintain ideal oral health, it’s better to keep all of your natural pearly whites.
Root Canal Procedure
Benefits of Root Canal Therapy
By saving your tooth instead of getting an extraction, you’ll be able to enjoy several benefits, such as:
- Continuing to Chew Normally: Missing teeth can affect your ability to chew. If you have root canal therapy, you’ll be able to eat normally again within a few days.
- No Need for a Replacement: You can replace a missing tooth with a dental implant, a bridge or partial dentures, but it’ll be more cost effective to just keep your natural tooth.
- Pain Relief: A root canal in Piedmont will stop the pain of an infection. On the other hand, some patients find that getting a tooth removed often causes as much pain as the toothache itself!
Root Canal Recovery
Ibuprofen and other pain medications can help with any discomfort you might experience. You should avoid chewing on the treated tooth until you’ve received your permanent filling or crown; in the meantime, it’s best to stick to a diet of soft and liquid foods. You can brush and floss like normal, but be extra gentle around the site of the surgery.
Understanding the Cost of Root Canals
When you are facing the prospect of a root canal, you’re probably more concerned with feeling better than with the cost of the treatment. That’s why we try and make every aspect of paying for the treatment as easy as possible.
We’ll be able to give you a complete estimate of the cost of care when we meet you in person, but before then, here’s what you should know about the prospect of paying for care.
Factors That Can Affect Root Canal Cost
Part of the reason why we can’t tell you what root canals cost without meeting you first is that there are several factors that may influence the final cost of your root canal treatment. For one, the type of tooth being treated can contribute to the complexity of the procedure—this is because some teeth have multiple roots, while others only have one.
In the case of more complicated treatments, you may also need to bring in a specialist to complete the root canal. The person whom you get the root canal from naturally affects its cost.
Is it Cheaper to Pull My Tooth?
In many cases, the upfront cost of a root canal and dental crown is higher than that of a tooth extraction. While removing a tooth is more inexpensive in the short run, this isn’t necessarily the case overall.
In most cases, leaving the socket where the tooth was removed empty can lead to serious oral health problems. Your jawbone is likely to degrade, affecting your overall appearance and potentially moving other teeth out of place. For that reason, we would strongly recommend replacing the tooth.
When budgeting for a tooth extraction, it’s a good idea to keep the cost of dental implants or bridges in mind. Together, these procedures will often be more expensive than a root canal.
Does Dental Insurance Cover Root Canals?
Root canals are a major, often medically necessary procedure. As a consequence, dental insurance will usually cover anywhere between 50% and 80% of the treatment. That said, every plan is different, so we’ll take the time to make sure that you get the most out of your benefits.
Other Options for Making Root Canal Therapy Affordable
If you don’t have insurance, we have other options available that may potentially make the dental care that you receive from us much more affordable. For one, we have a membership plan where you can pay a flat annual fee in exchange for significant discounts on dental care, including completely free exams and preventive care.
We also partner with CareCredit to offer financing services to our patients, often with little-to-no interest. This can split the cost of care into monthly payments, which may better fit your budget.
Root canals are vitally important medical procedures, so if you need one, give us a call so we can talk to you about the care that you need.
Root Canal FAQs
Out of all of the tooth-saving treatments available, root canals arguably have the worst reputation. However, this is largely because of misinformation that continues to circulate on the internet and through word of mouth. That’s why we always encourage our patients in Edmond to bring any questions they have to our team – we can help you find the answers! You can even learn more on the topic of root canal therapy right here.
Are Root Canals Painful?
Hands down, the most asked question about root canals is, “Do they hurt?” Fortunately, the answer is “no!” First, the techniques and technology used today are more advanced, innovative, and efficient than ever, which helps streamline the treatment process tremendously. However, we also always thoroughly numb that area of your mouth before restoring your tooth. Plus, we offer dental sedation for patients who have a complex treatment plan, who struggle with dental sensitivity, or who simply feel nervous in the treatment chair. Simply put, we will do whatever we can to make your experience at our office completely pain-free.
Do I Still Need a Root Canal If My Toothache Went Away?
Another common misconception is that pain is the only symptom of a severely decayed or infected tooth. That’s not the case. If your toothache has subsided, there’s a good chance it’s because the nerve of your tooth is “dead,” causing it not to register any pain. This is a very serious issue because it won’t take long for the root of the problem to spread to your surrounding teeth and gums, negatively impacting the look, health, and function of your smile in the process.
Can Root Canals Be Prevented?
Yes, the large majority of the time, root canals can be prevented. That requires a commitment to a solid at-home oral hygiene regimen, including brushing and flossing consistently and avoiding unhealthy dental habits, such as smoking. Another key is visiting our Edmond dental team twice a year for a checkup and cleaning. This serves two purposes for preventing root canals specifically: it removes plaque and tartar, and it ensures we catch tooth decay before it penetrates to the inner layers of your tooth.
Why Do I Need a Root Canal If My Tooth Doesn’t Hurt?
We touched on this briefly in one of the previous answers (that pain isn’t the only symptom of serious dental decay or damage). If you want to learn more about why your dentist is recommending a root canal, don’t hesitate to ask! From there, they can review what they found on your X-ray and during their exam that led them to suggest this restorative treatment. They can also provide additional information on the advantages of this tooth-saving service over others (like tooth extractions) and what will happen if you wait too long to get the dental care you need. That way, you feel completely informed about your options and what’s going on with your oral health.