There is a lot of misconception regarding the term “root canal,” with many associating it with painful dental experiences. However, endodontic therapy is one of the most effective treatments with the goal of saving a patient’s natural tooth. In fact, it is usually preferred for the treatment of a tooth with considerable decay or infection. Failing to perform a root canal can lead to further gum infection, bone infection, or even serious complications.
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What Is a Root Canal?
Inside the tooth is the pulp chamber which contains the tooth’s nerve. Inside the nerve are canals or branches that fanned out into roots. These structures include the nerves, connective tissue and blood vessels that serve the tooth during development.
During root canal treatment, the dental surgeon removes the diseased pulp and nerve tissues. The gird covering the pulp chamber is then cleaned, medicated, and sealed. Often, a dental crown is placed on the impacted tooth in order to offer further support and protection to the tooth.
What Does A Root Canal Set You Back By
As it stands, the national average price for a root canal is estimated to be $1165, but the cost can range from $500 to $1800. The nature of work done often dictates the pricing of any dental procedure. Most policies under dental insurance will pay for some part of endodontic work (most often 30-50% coverage).
The costs of root canals will greatly differ depending on the tooth affected, the patient’s geographical location, and the performing physician. For instance, root canals done by an endodontist might be 50% more expensive.
Root Canal Costs per Tooth Type
- Tooth: Average Cost Range
- Front tooth: $776 to 1911
- Bicuspid: $757 to 1798
- Molar: $1030 to 2471
Root Canal Costs per State
The average amounts across various states are as follows: Alabama – $1,123, Alaska – $981, Arizona – $1,327, Arkansas – $1,059, California – $1,046, Colorado – $1,296, Connecticut – $1,061, Delaware – $1,083, District of Columbia – $1,238, Florida – $1,194, Georgia – $1,227, Hawaii – $1,111, Idaho – $1,282, Illinois – $992, Indiana – $1,429, Iowa – $1,135, Kansas – $1,173, Kentucky – $1,202, Louisiana – $1,203, Maine – $1,234, Maryland – $1,083, Massachusetts – $1,199, Michigan – $1,164, Minnesota – $1,219, Mississippi – $1,241, Missouri – $1,224, Montana – $1,016, Nebraska – $1,146, Nevada – $1,125, New Hampshire – $1,164, New Jersey – $1,205, New Mexico – $1,056, New York – $1,347, North Carolina – $1,245, North Dakota – $1,159, Ohio – $1,197, Oklahoma – $1,154, Oregon – $1,163, Pennsylvania – $1,114, Rhode Island – $1,117, South Carolina – $1,211, South Dakota – $989, Tennessee – $1,207, Texas – $1,206, Utah – $1,128, Vermont – $1,375, Virginia – $1,151, Washington – $1,254, West Virginia – $1,001, Wisconsin – $1,237, and Wyoming – $1,045.
Emergency root canal cost
A root canal can sometimes be conducted on an emergency basis if the tooth is damaged and there is the possibility of the infection spreading to the neck or face. Depending on the severity of the infection and the position of the tooth, an emergency root canal can cost about $500 and $1,800.2
Why You May Need a Root Canal
Root canal procedures can remedy multiple problems that stem from the damage pertaining to a tooth.
Any patient suffering from traumatic injuries of teeth like broken or decayed teeth, as well as deeply carved cavities, were more likely to have issues that required this procedure. Some of the following symptoms indicate root canals may be necessary:
- Prolonged sensitivity to hot and cold temperatures lasting over thirty seconds.
- Painful sensations when chewing or biting down on something
- Bump-like lesions on the gums
- Broken teeth across the surface
- Painful or inflamed gum tissue
- Darkened gums or teeth with advanced decay
- Abscess of the tooth
- Advanced tooth decay (where cavities have coalesced and spread)
- Overly thorough dental treatment
- Poorly fitting filling or an ill-fitting crown
- Fracture of the tooth caused by excessive trauma
- Tooth pain, ranging from mild to intense
- Excruciating pain when pressure is applied while biting
- Staining of the tooth’s outer layer
- Abscess involving the gum or tooth
- Erythematous, inflamed, swollen, or necrotic gum tissue
When a tooth nerve becomes damaged, its tissue degenerates and starts to populate with bacteria within the pulp chamber, thus developing an abscess/infection that may extend beyond the root tips of a tooth. An abscess in the root canal may produce the following:
- Redness and swelling in the face, neck, and or head that may require urgent surgery from an oral surgeon or intervention from the emergency room doctor.
- Loss of bone surrounding the root and extending into the jaw.
- Restricted drainage within the gum to underneath the cheek and into the skin.
How Root Canal Procedures Are Done
Either your dentist or an endodontist will execute the root canal in their office. A root canal typically takes about 60 to 90 minutes, although more complicated procedures may take longer than 90 minutes. Usually, the procedure takes between one and two visits. Generally speaking, most root canals consist of the following seven steps:
X-Rays and Anesthesia
The dentist will most likely take X-rays to check if there is an infection in the bone or tissue that surrounds the tooth. Root canals are painless processes. First, the numbing agent is applied then the local anesthetic is injected into the gums to the area around the infected tooth.
Dental Dam Placement
Usually, a rubber dental dam is placed around the tooth to protect it from saliva. This rubber dam is mainly to protect the throat and ensure no instruments fall into the patient’s throat.
Removal of Dental Pulp
An opening is created in the tooth through which the diseased pulp (the living tissue at the center of the tooth), the bacteria and the decayed nerve tissue are cleaned out.
Cleaning and Shaping the Cavity
The area is cleaned and shaped with root canal files, followed by steam cleaning with water and sodium hypochlorite solution.
Capping the Tooth
In the case the area is cleansed, the tooth will now be capped with Temporary Filling to guard against salivary and food leakage until the next visit.
Filling the Tooth
The sealant compound “gutta percha” is placed into the root canal space of the tooth. The access cavity made at the start of the procedure will then be plugged with a filling. Your dentist may place medication and, in some cases, antibiotics and wait a week prior to sealing it if there is an infection/abscess. Some dentists may opt to fill and seal the tooth in one visit.
Permanent Filling and Crown Placement
This may be the last step, but further restoration may be necessary. Teeth with large fillings or extensive cavities that require root canals will need ongoing treatment to prevent damage down the line. A crown, crown and post or other restoration will likely be needed for complete functionality.
Different Forms of Root Canal Treatment
Conventional or Non-Surgical Root Canal Treatment
This is the type of root canal procedure performed most frequently, where the decayed dental pulp and nerves are extracted, the cavity is cleaned, and the tooth is sealed with a filling material.
Apicoectomy
When a traditional root canal is unsuccessful, an apicoectomy or microsurgical root canal is performed. There may still be some inflammation or infection present in the tooth or alveolar (jaw) bone. Locally, an anesthetic is performed, the tip of the tooth’s root is removed, and the canal is sealed with a filling material.
Pulpotomy or Pulpectomy
These procedures are performed on baby teeth to maintain a child’s natural tooth. A pulpotomy is when only the affected tooth pulp is removed, leaving the healthy pulp in the child’s tooth roots. In a pulpectomy, the entire pulp is removed and replaced with filler material.
Postoperative Care
Post root canal procedure, the mouth may feel numb for a few hours. Like most patients, they are able to return to their routines the same day but may prefer to wait to eat until after the numbness subsides.
Tooth sensitivity is expected for a few days post-surgery, especially in cases where there was soreness from tissue infection as it gets processed. Soreness can be handled through over-the-counter painkillers such as ibuprofen and naproxen.
Patients are encouraged not to chew with the affected tooth until the procedure is fully completed with a permanent filling or crown. The patient must ensure to maintain proper hygiene through brushing, flossing, and using some mouthwash. There is a 95% success rate in doing root canals for infected teeth, and if done correctly, they can last a lifetime.
Using the Care Credit Card to finance a root canal
When going for a dental checkup or root canal, payments not covered by insurance can be taken care of using the Care Credit Card. ** Locate a healthcare service provider near you that is registered with CareCredit through our Acceptance Locator. The Care Credit Card can be used for all sorts of health care expenses, and the CareCredit Mobile App makes it easier to manage your account, find providers, and access great resources such as articles, podcasts and videos on the Well U blog.
Apart from dental services, CareCredit is accepted for veterinary visits, cosmetic and dermatological services, vision and hearing care, pharmacy sales, spa visits, and plenty more within the CareCredit network. How do you plan to invest in your well-being next?
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