Saving Your Tooth
In the process of a root canal procedure, the living tissue inside the tooth, known as the pulp, is extracted. Subsequently, the void created is filled with specialized dental materials infused with medication to restore the tooth’s full functionality. Opting for root canal therapy not only preserves your natural tooth, thus prolonging its lifespan, but also safeguards and maintains the health of the jawbone and surrounding supporting tissues. Whenever feasible, preserving your natural tooth can spare you from enduring further discomfort and expenses in the future.
Several indications may suggest the need for root canal therapy, including:
- Increased sensitivity to hot and cold temperatures.
- Experiencing severe toothache pain.
- Observation of redness or swelling in the gums surrounding the affected tooth.
- Noticing a change in the color of the tooth.
- Detecting the presence of an abscess or a pimple on the gum tissue.
Setting Up Your Plan
Root canal treatments generally entail one or two office visits and can be conducted by either a dentist or an endodontist. Allow us to explain how we go about performing your root canal:
Diagnosis and Treatment
To begin, an x-ray of the tooth and surrounding bone is taken to diagnose the source of your symptoms. In some cases, your specialist may prescribe antibiotics to control infection and reduce inflammation. The pain caused by an abscess is typically due to the pressure from infected swelling and can be a major source of discomfort during a root canal. Minimizing this inflammation beforehand addresses this issue during the procedure.
Setting The Tooth Up For the Root Canal
When the moment comes for the root canal treatment, we ensure your comfort by patiently numbing the area, including your gums, teeth, and surrounding tissues. Your well-being is of utmost importance to us. Once you are comfortable, we proceed by drilling an access hole into the tooth and then remove the pulp, bacteria, decayed nerve tissue, and any related debris.
Sealing The Tooth
The severity of the abscess determines whether we need to place medication inside the tooth to effectively clear any infection. If the procedure involves multiple visits, we will apply a temporary filling. At this point, you should begin to experience some relief. The tooth can be permanently sealed only once it has been thoroughly cleaned and restored to health.
Cost of a Root Canal
The cost of dental treatment varies widely, but saving the tooth with a root canal is more cost-efficient in the long run. With a typical insurance plan, root canal therapy has an average out-of-pocket cost of around $100 to $500+. After an oral exam, we would be happy to provide you with an accurate quote for your insurance company so you can find out your actual out-of-pocket costs. Without insurance, you can expect to pay anywhere from $300 to $1000+ for treatment.
Why is there such a wide ballpark estimate of the cost? A root canal treatment is specifically tailored to treat an apparent infection in a tooth. The circumstances surrounding the infection and the state of the tooth and overall oral health of the patient can vary greatly. When we generate a quote for root canal therapy we consider factors like:
- The severity of the infection. More serve infections may require additional treatment before and after the root canal is performed.
- The location of the infection in your mouth.
- The health of the surrounding teeth and tissue.
- Complications which may require more time or a delicate and experienced touch.
Is there an alternative treatment?
An abscess or infection in your tooth is extremely dangerous and considered an urgent health matter. Many people think of root canals as some sort of ‘lesser evil’ to end excruciating dental pain. More important than that, root canals remove an infection that can spread and become life-threatening, requiring much more urgent and invasive care. This is why we work tirelessly to fight the reputation that root canal therapy has gained and why your comfort and peace-of-mind is so important to us.
If you think you may have an infection but you really don’t want a root canal, we strongly encourage you to reach out to us anyways. We will not perform any procedure without your full understanding and consent and may have alternative options for you with the ultimate goal of resolving your infection.
Contact us today
to schedule an initial consultation & exam.
Your consultation will include an examination of everything from your teeth, gums and soft tissues to the shape and condition of your bite. Generally, we want to see how your whole mouth looks and functions. Before we plan your treatment we want to know everything about the health and aesthetic of your smile, and, most importantly, what you want to achieve so we can help you get there.
Winner Of The Three Best Rated Award
Dr. Alwash is the winner of the 3 Best Rated award for Best Dentists in Markham.
Frequently Asked Questions
Damage may arise from deep decay, trauma, a non-vital nerve, a loose filling or crown, or a fracture or chip in the tooth.
With the aid of modern techniques and technology and a compassionate approach to dentistry, our expert team of dentists and hygienists can perform root canal treatments with minimal to no discomfort.
When you recognize the need for a root canal, it means that the deterioration of your tooth pulp and nerve has already started. This infected tissue won’t heal completely and is susceptible to reinfection, necessitating the removal of the pulp as the only safe option.
A standard root canal procedure generally involves one or two office appointments. In cases that are simple or minor, the treatment typically lasts around 30 to 60 minutes, whereas more intricate cases may extend to approximately 90 minutes.
Your expenses will be determined by your insurance coverage. Once we’ve conducted a consultation, we can offer you an estimate to submit to your insurer. We urge you to prioritize scheduling a root canal. If you have any concerns, please feel free to share them with us.
After a root canal on your posterior grinding teeth, like molars and premolars, a dental crown is usually advised, while front teeth, including canines and incisors, may not require one.
What Our Patients Are Saying
Mohsin Shaik
Tula, the lady at the front desk, is the gem of the clinic with her sweet talks and a charming smile makes it feel like home. Amy is quick, fast and accurate, making sure everything is up to date, My hygienist Wendy was amazing lady with incredibly smooth hands[...] Dr Zina with her smiling face always treats patients as family giving them the home atmosphere. My daughter had a root canal and as a young teenager she was bit nervous, later on after the treatment she was so relaxed and upon asking I was informed that she didn't even feel any pain
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