Root Canal Treatment – Huntsville, OH
Helping You Avoid Pain & Tooth Loss
While a toothache is bad, you may not think it’s a big deal. Perhaps you believe it’ll fade before things go back to normal. However, you shouldn’t ignore persistent tooth pain. This discomfort could mean you have a dental infection. Leaving it alone may cause tooth loss and worse. Still, Northwest Family Dental offers root canal treatment here in Huntsville. This service can soothe your ache and save your smile. Read on to learn more, or book a visit to our office.
Do I Need Root Canal Treatment?
Put simply, a root canal treatment is a way to cure an infected tooth. The latter occurs when harmful bacteria reach a pearly white’s pulp. Thus, a root canal is needed when you show the telltale signs of a dental infection. The most common of these symptoms are:
- Persistent Tooth Pain – True enough, occasional tooth pain is a typical thing. However, you likely have an infection if that ache is persistent.
- Tooth Sensitivity – When a tooth hurts from hot or cold temperatures, there’s a chance it’s infected.
- Discolored Tooth – Once a tooth’s pulp is infected, its surface may turn dark.
- Tooth Looseness – Infected pulp has pus that can soften the bone beneath a tooth. Therefore, this tooth may feel looser.
- Swollen Gums – An infected tooth's pulp can collect in the gums, making them swollen or tender.
The Root Canal Process
Root canal treatment tends to be involved and invasive. To perform it well, a dentist must follow a specific multi-step process.
Firstly, the dentist will numb your mouth with local anesthesia. This measure keeps you from feeling pain during the subsequent work. The most you’ll sense is some mild pressure as the dentist proceeds.
Once the affected area is numb, the dentist starts the actual treatment. They’ll begin by using dental tools to reach your tooth’s inner chamber and remove its pulp. Then, they’ll sanitize this interior and refill it with gutta-percha – a material that acts as a filling. The dentist will wrap things up by sealing the tooth and protecting it with a temporary crown.
You’ll attend a follow-up visit a few weeks after the initial treatment. At that time, you’ll receive your permanent crown. This cap will protect your treated tooth and ensure it stays safe!
The Benefits of Getting a Root Canal
There are many perks to root canal treatment. By getting it, you’ll experience the following:
- Lifelike Results – Since a treated tooth’s crown is tooth-colored, it’ll hide any prior damage.
- Dental Protection – A dental crown protects your tooth from further harm. So, it and your root canal will work to prevent more decay.
- No Tooth Loss – By removing the infected pulp, a root canal saves your tooth. That means you won’t need to have it extracted or replaced.
- Pain Relief – Infected tooth pulp tends to cause a lot of pain. A root canal removes this material and eases your discomfort.
Understanding the Cost of Root Canals
If you’ve been told you need a root canal, one of your first questions might be, “How much will it cost?” At Northwest Family Dental of Huntsville, we believe in transparency when it comes to treatment pricing. The truth is the cost of a root canal can vary widely based on several factors, so there’s no single answer. Whatever the case may be, root canals are an essential investment in your oral health that can prevent more serious (and costly) issues later on. Read more below to learn more about what influences root canal pricing and how we help make treatment affordable.
Factors That Can Affect Root Canal Cost
Like fingerprints, your teeth are unique to you and there are certain aspects of your smile that can cause the cost of root canal treatment to fluctuate. Here’s what we look for to determine your price:
- Tooth Location: Molars tend to cost more than front teeth due to their complex structure. Not only are they harder to reach, but they also tend to have more roots. Because of this, back teeth tend to be more expensive to treat than front ones.
- Severity of Infection: More extensive infections may require additional treatment or medication which can push costs up.
- Restoration Needs: A dental crown is often needed after a root canal, adding to the total cost.
At our Huntsville dental office, we provide clear pricing and discuss all costs upfront after your consultation. You’ll never have to worry about surprise fees or extra charges with us.
Is it Cheaper to Extract My Tooth?
While you’re in pain, it can be easy to panic and consider extraction instead of a root canal. However, this option comes with several problems that can make your treatment more costly down the road, like shifting teeth, malocclusion, and bone loss in your jaw. This is not to mention the cost of replacing a tooth to prevent these issues!
So, while extraction is the cheaper choice in the short term, it can end up costing you far more with time.
Does Dental Insurance Cover Root Canals?
In most cases, yes. Many dental insurance plans will cover a portion of root canal treatment, often classifying it as a major procedure. However, coverage varies based on your provider, plan, and whether you've met your deductible, so it’s always best to check before making a commitment.
If you need help, our team will gladly review your benefits and provide an estimate of your out-of-pocket costs. We’ll also file any paperwork on your behalf so you can focus on your treatment instead of the paper trail.
Other Options for Making Root Canal Treatment Affordable
We understand that dental care can be a heavy investment, which is why we offer several options to make root canal treatment more budget-friendly, including:
CareCredit & Cherry Financing: Flexible low-to-no-interest payment plans allow you to split the cost into manageable monthly payments.
In-House Membership Plan: Enjoy discounted treatment rates and preventive care benefits without the need for insurance.
At Northwest Family Dental of Huntsville, we’re committed to providing exceptional care at a price that works for you. If you need a root canal but are worried about the cost, don’t hesitate to reach out to us. We’ll work with you to find a solution that fits your budget.
Root Canal FAQs
How long does it take to recover after a root canal?
Each root canal patient’s recovery time will be different, but many are able to resume normal activities of daily living the day after their root canal. However, it may be best to take a few days off after your procedure if your job involves physical labor since vigorous exercise can complicate your healing process. While you can expect your mouth to be sore for several days afterward, you can address this issue with a cold compress or by taking prescribed or over-the-counter pain medication as instructed. While recovering, stick to a soft diet and take care to chew on the side of the mouth opposite from where the root canal was performed. While it’s important to brush and floss normally, you should be especially careful when cleaning the treated tooth. If your pain seems to be getting worse instead of better after about three days or if you experience signs of infection such as fever or swelling, contact our office in Huntsville immediately.
How much pain is normal after a root canal?
While you shouldn’t experience any pain while receiving a root canal, you can expect some discomfort and soreness during the following few days. After the anesthetic wears off, you may notice mild pain and sensitivity, but this will be temporary and easy to treat with over-the-counter pain relievers. It’s best to avoid chewing hard foods while recovering, as the stress this causes can increase your discomfort. While the pain should begin to fade after three days, contact our office if it does not.
Can I eat before a root canal?
If you receive dental sedation during your root canal, you may need to fast for a few hours beforehand to reduce the risk of nausea. Otherwise, it’s best to eat a healthy meal at least a few hours before your procedure as long as you brush your teeth afterward. Your mouth will be numb for a while after the treatment, which can make eating difficult. It’s also best to refrain from drinking alcohol for twenty-four hours before the procedure, as this chemical can negatively interact with the anesthetic used to numb your mouth.
What should I do before a root canal?
In addition to enjoying a nutritious meal and avoiding alcohol before your root canal, it’s important to refrain from smoking since it can interfere with the anesthetic. It might also be a great idea to take an over-the-counter pain reliever immediately before your procedure to help you stay comfortable as the anesthetic wears off. It’s ideal to get a good night’s sleep before and after your root canal, as this will make you less nervous and help your immune system work efficiently so you can recover more easily.