Designing Beautiful SmilesRoot Canal Therapy – Plano, TX
Save Your Smile with Root Canal Therapy
If a toothache is keeping you up at night, Parkway Vista Dental can give you the relief you need. Although many people think a toothache is common from time to time, it’s never a good sign. In fact, it often indicates an infection. Don’t worry. We can save your tooth with a root canal. Despite their bad reputation for being painful, our modern dental office uses the latest advancements in dentistry, so root canal therapy in Plano, TX isn’t any worse than a traditional dental filling.
Do I Need a Root Canal?
Your teeth are comprised of 3 layers. The hard layer you see is the enamel, which protects the underlying dentin. The dentin contains millions of tiny tubes connecting to the nerve center of your tooth, called the pulp.
Every day, your teeth are exposed to acids that slowly eat away at your enamel. Over time, a small hole may form, known as a cavity. At this point, the decay can be easily treated using a filling. Unfortunately, many people don’t get the care they need. As a result, the decay extends further into the tooth until it eventually reaches the dentin. Now, a filling is no longer enough. You’ll need a root canal to save your tooth from extraction.
There are several signs that can indicate you need a root canal, such as:
- Darkening of your tooth.
- Lingering tooth sensitivity.
- Pain when putting pressure on a tooth.
- Pimple-like bump appearing on the gum near the tooth.
What is a Root Canal?
A root canal is an endodontic treatment used to extract the pulp. It’s one of the most common restorative dentistry treatments; however, your dentist in Plano only recommends it when there aren’t any other options to save your tooth.
Generally, you can expect your procedure to take 2 appointments. During your first visit, a local anesthetic is used to ensure your comfort as Dr. Kamali removes any areas of decay and extracts the pulp. Your tooth is sterilized before it’s sealed with gutta-percha. This reinforces its structure while also sealing out bacteria.
Now that the health of your tooth is restored, Dr. Kamali focuses on its appearance and function, which will require a dental crown. Our dental office uses all-ceramic restorations, so you can rest assured your crown will look natural.
Dr. Kamali takes an impression of your mouth to ensure the crown meets your exact needs. It can take the dental lab a couple of weeks to fabricate it to match your specifications. While you wait, a temporary crown is bonded to your tooth. After your final restoration is sent back to our dental office, you return for your second appointment to have it bonded to your tooth.
It’s normal for your tooth to be a bit tender for a couple of days after your root canal, but you can manage your discomfort using an over-the-counter pain reliever. It’s also best to avoid chewing with your tooth until after you’ve received your permanent crown.
Your crown can last for over a decade if you practice the right oral hygiene habits at home and visit your dentist regularly.
The Benefits of Root Canal Treatment
Over the years, you may have heard some rumors about root canal treatment, which were likely negative. In reality, the procedure is virtually painless and helps prevent the need for an extraction! Furthermore, it stops the infection in its tracks so it doesn’t spread to your surrounding teeth and gums. It’s also important that we mention here that the restoration used to protect your tooth moving forward will be custom-made from lifelike materials, ensuring the final result looks and feels great.
Understanding the Cost of Root Canals
Now that you know a bit more about the procedure and why it’s necessary, you might be wondering, “How much does root canal treatment cost?” Since there isn’t a one-size-fits-all answer, we can’t provide you with an estimate until you come in for your exam. We can, however, share the factors that influence the answer and how to make the price more affordable.
Factors That Can Affect Root Canal Cost
In order to create your treatment plan and, in turn, pinpoint the cost, we need to consider:
- The severity of the damage
- The location and type of tooth
- The restoration needed to protect your tooth moving forward
Rest assured, we will review all of these factors (and any others) during your appointment so you feel completely comfortable moving forward.
Is it Cheaper to Pull My Tooth?
It’s always a good idea to review all of your treatment options. When you do, make sure to keep in mind more than just the upfront cost. Tooth extractions are a perfect example because, at first, it seems like the price is cheaper. It’s important to remember, however, that you also need to factor in the cost of the tooth replacement needed to fill the gap in your smile moving forward, like a dental bridge or implant. That’s why root canal treatment is almost always cheaper than having the tooth removed.
Does Dental Insurance Cover Root Canal Treatment?
Fortunately, dental insurance does usually cover a portion of the cost. As always, the fine print on your dental plan needs to be considered. Do you have any waiting periods? Have you met your annual deductible or yearly maximum? Answers to questions like these will give you insight into your benefits and, in turn, your out-of-pocket expenses. As always, if you need any help with this process, just let us know!
Other Options for Making Root Canal Treatment Affordable
Here are three ways we help our patients save:
- In-House Dental Plan: When you join, you’ll get access to benefits like an emergency exam annually in addition to preventive dental care and certain discounts.
- CareCredit: CareCredit is a flexible financier that offers payment plans so you don’t have to pay the entire cost of root canal treatment at once.
- Special Offers: Periodically, we offer special offers to help our patients save on preventive, restorative, and cosmetic dental care.
We know that navigating the cost of dental care can be stressful at times, so don’t hesitate to reach out to us with any questions you have – no matter how small. Remember, we want your entire experience with us to be positive, from start to finish.
Root Canal FAQs
It’s not unusual to feel a bit nervous after learning you will need a root canal in Plano. However, we’re here to help! Our talented team has collected the most common questions about root canal therapy and answered them below. You can ease your nerves by learning more about this common restorative procedure. If you have any further questions or concerns, don’t hesitate to contact our office.
What Happens If You Wait Too Long for a Root Canal?
Unlike a scrape, cut, or bruise, which heal on their own, a tooth infection will only get worse without professional treatment. Sometimes, tooth pain goes away, which might trick you into thinking you no longer need a root canal. However, this often indicates that the infection has actually destroyed the tooth’s nerves, leaving them unable to register pain. Instead of rolling the dice and delaying treatment, you should schedule a root canal as soon as possible after your dentist tells you that you need one. Waiting too long to get a root canal when you need one could cause the infection to spread to your jaw, gums, other teeth, or even the rest of your body, where it could cause systemic illness. Your tooth might also become so damaged that it has to be extracted.
Can Root Canals Be Prevented?
The best way to prevent the need for a root canal is to take good care of your oral health. Be sure to brush twice a day for a full two minutes each time, floss daily, and use mouthwash regularly. In addition, regular dental checkups every six months are an essential part of maintaining a healthy smile. Together, these habits will minimize the risk of bacteria reaching a tooth’s pulp. You can also decrease your risk of tooth decay by limiting your sugar intake, eating lots of nutritious foods, and drinking plenty of water. Finally, wearing a mouthguard when playing sports and a nightguard while sleeping (if you grind your teeth) can protect your teeth from becoming chipped or cracked. Bacteria have an easier time accessing the pulp of compromised teeth, which could lead to the need for a root canal in Plano.
How Long Do Root Canals Last?
Root canals have a remarkably high success rate when performed by an experienced dentist in Plano. Most teeth that have been treated with root canal therapy can provide full chewing function for many years, or even a lifetime. The longevity of your root canal will depend on various factors, such as:
- The extent of damage to the tooth.
- How much time elapsed between placing the temporary and the permanent crown/filling (if too much time has passed, the tooth may be vulnerable to reinfection).
To help your root canal last as long as possible, make sure to follow Dr. Kamali’s post-op instructions and practice excellent oral hygiene.
How Much Pain Is Normal After a Root Canal?
While the root canal procedure itself shouldn’t hurt, you may experience some discomfort and soreness over the next few days. In most cases, over-the-counter pain relievers, like acetaminophen and ibuprofen, should be enough to handle any temporary mild pain. Avoid chewing hard foods during this initial recovery period, as doing so could worsen your discomfort. Post-root canal pain should start to subside after three days or so. If it doesn’t, give our team a call right away.
Why Do I Need a Root Canal if My Tooth Doesn’t Hurt?
The short answer is – although common – pain isn’t the only symptom of severe decay or an infection. A few other warning signs include dark discoloration on a specific tooth, a blister or pimple-like bump on your gums, or considerable sensitivity to hot and cold foods. If we determine during the exam that root canal treatment is needed, it’s only because we need to eliminate the infection before it spreads or progresses to the point where saving your tooth is no longer an option.
Can I Take Antibiotics Instead of Getting a Root Canal?
Although antibiotics are used to treat infections, they aren’t used to treat infections in your tooth. The reason why is that the bloodstream cannot reach! That’s why the only option is either root canal treatment or a tooth extraction.
Do I Still Need a Root Canal if My Toothache Went Away?
Patients are often surprised to hear that they still need a root canal even though their pain has gone away. That’s because if a once painful toothache has gone radio silent, it’s likely because the infection has “killed” the root, making it unable to register pain. Again, this might initially seem like a good thing, but leaving the infection untreated simply allows it to spread throughout your mouth and to other parts of your body. So, it’s important that you still get the necessary restorative care ASAP.
Do Root Canals Make You Sick?
Back in the day (in the 1920s, to be exact), poorly designed research by a dentist named Dr. Weston Price claimed that it was better to get a tooth extraction because a root canal would leave some of the bacteria behind. Not only is there no scientific evidence supporting this claim, but this theory has been debunked on several occasions. So, the answer is, “No, root canals do not make you sick.”
Schedule an Appointment Today!
Don’t ignore your toothache. We can stop your pain and save your tooth with a root canal. Contact our dental office today to schedule your consultation.