Root Canals - Groveport, OH
Providing Better Oral Health by Removing the Infection
When an infection reaches the innermost layer of your tooth, you can experience immense pain as a result. While some dental professionals would immediately recommend a tooth extraction, at Sedalia Dental, our team of dentists wants to eliminate the pain and restore your natural tooth’s structural integrity. In order to do this, a root canal in Groveport must be performed. Although it may sound scary, this type of procedure is the exact opposite. Not only does it remove the pain caused by the infection, but it keeps your regular tooth in place, preventing the need for dental implants or a bridge. To find out more about this beneficial procedure, contact us to schedule an appointment today.
Why Choose Sedalia Dental for Root Canals?
- Modern dental techniques used to minimize discomfort
- Highly-skilled and qualified dental team
- Personalized treatment plan to address your specific needs
Symptoms That Indicate the Need for a Root Canal
If tooth pain in Groveport is progressively worsening, and you believe it is more than just a standard toothache, it is possible there is a problem occurring beneath the surface. When an infection reaches the pulp, which is the inner layer of your tooth that is comprised of nerves, tissue, and blood vessels, it can result in serious discomfort and potential tooth loss if left untreated.
While your dentist is the only person who can recommend a roto canal, there are ways to tell if this procedure is a likely possibility:
- Increased pain in the area of the infected tooth
- Swelling around the face, neck, or head
- Difficulty chewing
- Sensitivity to hot or cold temperatures
- Discoloration of the tooth
- Pimple-like sores on the gums near the infected tooth
How the Procedure Works
A root canal will involve one of our esteemed dentists performing an x-ray and visual examination of your smile. After evaluating the problem area and looking for signs of infection in or around the bone, they will administer anesthesia to ensure you are comfortable throughout the procedure.
A dental dam will then be placed around the infected tooth to keep saliva from seeping into the surgical site. Once in place, we will enter through the crown of your tooth until reaching the pulp. At this time, we will remove any infected pulp and bacteria before thoroughly cleaning the canals and rinsing away any debris left behind. We will then fill the tooth will gutta-percha, effectively sealing it off from further reinfection or damage.
It will be necessary to have a dental crown placed over your tooth to keep it protected, so impressions will be taken and sent to dental lab technicians to create your custom restoration. In the meantime, we will place a temporary crown over your weakened tooth, which will be removed once the final prosthetic is ready for placement.
Benefits of a Root Canal
If you are learning that you need a root canal, the first thing you must know is that there is nothing to be afraid of. The procedure is not scary whatsoever, as you will feel absolutely no pain while your dentist removes the infection – the cause of your actual tooth pain. It’s understandable that dental work is something most people do not look forward to, but a root canal has many great benefits, including:
- You get to keep your natural tooth instead of having it extracted and replaced
- The infection is stopped and can no longer spread to other teeth
- Your smile will be enhanced because your dental crown will be matched to your natural tooth color, size, and shape, creating a beautiful, blended smile
- Keeping your natural teeth enables you to maintain better oral health because of the continued stimulation to your jawbone
Understanding the Cost of Root Canals
When you’re told that you need root canal therapy, you’re likely to have a number of concerns, not the least of which is likely to be “How much will the treatment cost?” It can be difficult to determine the exact cost of root canal therapy until we’ve examined your teeth and considered the specifics of your situation. Rest assured, though, that we will be able to give you an estimate before your treatment begins, and we can help you put together a plan to save your tooth without breaking the bank.
Factors That Can Affect Root Canal Cost
We’ll need to consider the following variables when figuring out how much root canal therapy will cost:
- Type/Location of Tooth: The teeth near the back of your mouth contain more canals than the front teeth. As a result, they tend to require more care, which can increase the cost of root canal therapy.
- Complexity of the Procedure: Generally, the more complex your root canal treatment is, the higher you can expect the cost to be. In some cases, a specialist may need to be brought in; this can affect the amount you end up paying.
- Additional Services: Oftentimes, you’ll need to have a crown placed after root canal therapy. Said crown will have its own cost to consider.
Is it Cheaper to Pull My Tooth?
When comparing the costs of the actual procedures, tooth extraction is generally cheaper than root canal therapy. This does not necessarily mean, however, that a tooth extraction is the better financial decision. If you have a tooth removed, you may be at risk for dental drift and other oral health complications that might require costly treatment in the future. And if you choose to have the tooth replaced, you’ll need to consider the cost of a bridge or dental implant.
Root canal therapy allows you to save your natural tooth, meaning you won’t have to worry about getting a replacement and can potentially avoid further oral health issues. That said, if the tooth becomes too badly damaged, we may have no choice but to remove it; as such, if root canal therapy is still an option, we recommend having it done as soon as possible.
Does Dental Insurance Cover Root Canal Therapy?
Most dental insurance plans will help pay for root canal therapy. Coverage is typically anywhere between 50% and 80% depending on what plan you have. You should call your insurance company to confirm the details of your coverage before you commit to root canal therapy. Our team will be happy to file the necessary claims on your behalf.
Other Options for Making Root Canal Therapy Affordable
Patients who don’t have insurance can still consider other options to help them pay for root canal therapy:
- Our Family Discount Plan gives you and your loved ones a 20% discount on many of our procedures.
- We accept payment plans from CareCredit, which is a third-party financing company that will let you pay for your care in manageable monthly installments.
Root Canal FAQs
If you’ve recently been told you need a root canal in Groveport, you might be feeling a bit worried. After all, root canals have an intimidating reputation. Rest assured, however, that you have nothing to fear when it comes to this harmless and even beneficial procedure. To help assuage your anxieties, we’ve taken the time to answer some of the questions that we get asked the most frequently about root canals.
Are Root Canals Painful?
Although root canals are rumored to be incredibly painful, keep in mind that those are just rumors. In actuality, most of our patients report that getting a root canal is about as comfortable as receiving a standard filling. This is because we make sure to use plenty of local anesthetic to numb the area before beginning treatment. The reason behind root canals’ daunting reputation may be the pain caused by the infection that necessitates the treatment, not the procedure itself. Root canal therapy actually relieves this pain!
Are There Alternatives to Getting a Root Canal?
Once a tooth has been damaged to the point where root canal therapy is recommended, the only other option is to extract it entirely. However, having even one missing tooth can result in a plethora of oral health problems. Your jawbone begins to weaken, putting you at risk for additional tooth loss. Your facial muscles start to droop and wrinkle, making you appear older than you are. You have trouble chewing your favorite crunchy foods. Not to mention, replacing a missing tooth can be costly and extensive. For this reason, we highly suggest root canal therapy over an extraction. In the majority of cases, teeth that have been treated with a root canal go on to last the rest of a patient’s life.
What Happens After a Root Canal?
For a few days after your root canal, your tooth may feel a bit sensitive and sore, but this can typically be relieved with over-the-counter pain medication like acetaminophen or ibuprofen. To curb potential swelling as well as pain, you can also apply a cold compress to your cheek in ten-minute intervals for up to an hour. You will most likely be instructed to avoid chewing with that tooth until we place your permanent crown a few weeks later.
How Can I Avoid Needing Another Root Canal in the Future?
Usually, root canals are required when an infection develops deep within the tooth as a result of decay. To prevent decay from reaching that point, make sure to brush and floss every single day. Attend dental checkups and cleanings at least every six months, or more often if you have a history of poor oral health. Limit the amount of sugary, starchy, and acidic foods and drinks you consume. Lastly, wear a mouthguard if you play sports to protect your teeth from injury.