Preserving Your Natural Tooth
A root canal procedure involves removing the tooth’s pulp—the living tissue inside—and filling the space with specialized, medicated materials to restore the tooth’s full function. Root canal therapy not only saves your natural tooth, extending its lifespan, but also helps protect the surrounding jawbone and supporting tissues. By keeping your natural tooth intact, you can avoid more pain and costly treatments in the future.
Here are some common signs that you may need root canal therapy:
- Sensitivity to hot or cold.
- Severe toothache pain.
- Red or swollen gums around the tooth.
- Tooth discolouration.
- An abscess (or pimple) on the gums.
Wherever possible, preserving your natural tooth is the best option for long-term oral health.
The Root Canal Treatment Plan
A root canal treatment typically requires one or two visits to your dentist or an endodontist. Here’s what you can expect during the procedure:
Diagnosis and Treatment Plan
The first step is diagnosing the issue through an x-ray of your tooth and the surrounding bone to pinpoint the cause of your symptoms. If needed, your specialist may prescribe antibiotics to control infection and inflammation, which often cause pain during a root canal. Reducing inflammation in advance can help ease discomfort during the procedure by minimizing pressure from any swelling.
Preparing the Tooth
Before starting the root canal, we’ll carefully numb the area, ensuring your gums, teeth, and surrounding tissues are fully frozen. Your comfort is our priority, and we make sure you’re relaxed before proceeding. Once you’re comfortable, an access hole is drilled into the tooth, and we remove the pulp, bacteria, decayed nerve tissue, and other debris.
Sealing the Tooth
If there’s an infection, we may place medication inside the tooth to clear it up completely. For treatments that require multiple visits, a temporary filling will be applied, providing you with some relief right away. Once the tooth is thoroughly cleaned and healthy, it will be permanently sealed.
This approach ensures your tooth is restored to health, offering long-term relief and protecting the surrounding tissues.
Cost of a Root Canal in North York
The cost of dental treatments can vary, but preserving a tooth with a root canal is often more cost-effective in the long term. If you have insurance, the average out-of-pocket cost for a root canal ranges from $200 to $500 or more. After an oral exam, we’ll gladly provide you with a detailed quote for your insurance company to determine your exact out-of-pocket expenses. Without insurance, the cost typically falls between $600 and $1,200+.
Why is There Such a Wide Estimate? Several factors influence the cost of a root canal, including:
- The severity of the infection.
- The location of the affected tooth.
- The condition of surrounding teeth and gums.
- Any complications requiring additional time or expertise.
It’s important to note that accurate quotes cannot be given over the phone. Each case is unique, so meeting with a dentist to evaluate your specific situation is essential. This allows us to provide a precise treatment plan and cost estimate.
Are There Alternatives to Root Canals?
An abscess or tooth infection is a serious health concern that requires immediate attention. While many people see root canals as a last resort for relieving dental pain, they play a crucial role in removing infections that could spread and become life-threatening. That’s why we’re dedicated to dispelling the negative reputation associated with root canal therapy and focus on your comfort and peace of mind throughout the process.
If you suspect you have an infection but want to avoid a root canal, we still encourage you to reach out. We’ll ensure you fully understand your options and won’t proceed with any treatment without your consent. We may also have alternative solutions to help resolve the 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
Damage can occur due to deep decay, trauma, dead nerve, a loose filling or crown or a crack or chip in the tooth.
Thanks to modern techniques and technology and a compassionate dental philosophy our highly trained team of dentists and hygienists can provide root canal treatments with minimal to no pain at all.
By the time you realize you need a root canal, your tooth pulp and nerve have already begun to decay. This infected tissue will never fully heal and would only become infected again. Removing the pulp is the only safe option.
A root canal treatment usually requires one or two office visits. Simple or minor root canal cases usually take about 30 to 60 minutes of treatment, while a more complex case take longer– around 90 minutes.
That depends on what sort of insurance coverage you have. After a consultation, we can provide you with an estimate to send to your provider. We strongly encourage you to make a root canal a high priority. Please speak to us if you feel any hesitation.
You typically need a dental crown after a root canal on your back grinding teeth, molars and premolars. Front teeth, canines, and incisors may not require a dental crown.
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