Why Would You Need an Affordable Root Canal Procedure?
Among many people, there is a myth that root canal itself is a treatment. A root canal is not a dental treatment; it is one of the tooth parts. When it is treated due to infection formation it is known as root canal treatment.
Several factors raise the need to have a root canal procedure:
An injured pulp that cannot repair itself leads to dead tissues in the pulp.
Cavity formation or cracked teeth or improper fillings lead to bacteria formation. This formation leads to damage to the pulp and even the roots of the tooth.
An infection led by bacteria weakens the bone of the tooth and also breaks it down. This leads to swelling of the ligaments of the tooth and it loosens the tooth.
When multiple dental procedures are being performed on the same tooth, the roots are weakened leading to loosened teeth.
Symptoms of Root Canal Issues
Some of the symptoms that suggest you may be facing root canal infection are:
Consistent Pain in the Tooth – If the pain in the tooth is constant and you feel extreme discomfort deep in the tooth then it is a clear sign of a root canal issue that may also highlight on your face or jaw in the form of swelling.
Sensitivity Towards Heat and Cold – On consumption of a hot beverage or an ice cream, if your tooth experiences a sharp pain that expiates for more than a few seconds then there is a root canal infection for sure.
Swollen Gums – When you find the gums are swollen and also the pus formations are happening, know it’s a root canal infection.
Pimple on the Gums – The pimple formations or boils lead to the accumulation of pus and once it starts draining, it causes an unpleasant odor or taste.
Swollen Jaw – When the pus formations do not drain they cause swelling in the jaw area.
Discoloured Tooth – The infected pulp makes the tooth look darker since the infection blocks the proper blood supply to the tooth roots.
Pain When Applied Pressure on Tooth – If you experience pain while chewing the food or even when food just touches the tooth it indicates damage to the pulp nerves.
Cracked or Chipped Tooth – When the tooth is chipped off or cracked due to any sports injuries or hard food biting then the bacteria easily enters that space leading to further infections.
Loosened Tooth – The infections formed in the roots of the tooth makes the teeth loosen. The reason for this is, the infected pulp softens the bone and will not able to provide the required support for the tooth to stand firmly.
Steps of a Root Canal
Images of the tooth are taken with X-ray or scanning machines to thoroughly understand the infection and the damage caused to the tooth.
Upon knowing the tooth situation the procedure is briefed to the patient and the process begins with the inducing of local anesthesia to numb the tooth until the procedure is complete.
The damaged tooth is extracted which creates an opening in the pulp of the tooth.
The damaged pulp and other accumulated debris are removed from the pulp.
The cleared canal is inserted with a synthetic material filling that protects the canal from recurring infection.
On the covered canal an artificial crown is placed to fill the space of the missing tooth.
Is Root Canal Treatment Affordable in NYC?
Root Canal is an affordable treatment in NYC and the cost of the root canal treatment depends on the position of the tooth and also the level of damages incurred due to the root canal infection. It would be convenient to have an insurance plan before getting a root canal done since many insurance companies cover 30%-50% of the total cost.
Cost of a Root Canal
The root canal treatment involves many steps that would be charged other than the procedure itself. The X-rays, CT scans (if required), apicoectomy, teeth restorations, dental sedations and any other steps to be taken to make the root canal treatment successful will involve an additional cost.
Factors Affecting the Cost of Root Canal
Infected Location – If the infected teeth are frontal teeth or bicuspid teeth (premolars) then the treatment is not very expensive and also the front and mid teeth root canal treatment procedure is not very tedious. If the molars are affected the endodontist has to take extra measures to perform the procedure since it is difficult to visualize. The added efforts for molar make it more expensive.
Choosing Between General Dentist and Endodontist – Root canal comes under endodontic issues and an experienced, highly qualified and knowledgeable endodontist performs successful root canal treatment that turns out to be expensive. On the other hand, general dentists also perform root canal treatment at a lesser cost.
Complexity Involved In The Procedure – The cost of treatment directly depends on the complications involved. If the damages are more, the endodontist takes additional steps to make sure that the procedure is successful. This specialization increases the cost of the treatment.
Additional Expenses – The root canal procedure also involves some of the tests taken that are part of the treatment such as dental imaging and crown making. All these add-ons are not inclusive of treatment so these additional expenses will be included.
Location of The Clinic – This is also one of the factors that assess the cost of the treatment. Different locations vary the cost of root canal treatment.
Does Insurance Cover Root Canals?
Yes, most insurance companies cover the cost of root canal treatment. The price variations are notable in this treatment when you approach insurance.
For example, the average cost of the root canal treatment for frontal teeth may be around $700-$1100 but with insurance, it would cost you an average of $200-$1200 for both frontal tooth and bicuspid tooth. IN this way, the cost depends on the tooth position and the techniques involved but the insurance would pay on an average of 30%-50% of the total cost so consider having insurance for enjoying the benefits of it.
