Root Canal Treatment – Catonsville, MD
Helping You Find Relief from Tooth Pain
Every year, thousands of Americans struggle with mysterious tooth pain. If you've felt a sting or a throb in a certain tooth, you may be tempted to assume you've gotten a cavity. The truth is that the pain could be caused by something much more serious, such as a root infection.
Failing to seek treatment for an infected tooth early on can lead to severe consequences. However, you can always turn to Dr. Bemani and our dental team at Advance Dental Clinic for a solution to your tooth pain. We're proud to set the local standard for quick and effective root canal treatment in Catonsville, MD, and the surrounding areas. We'll minimize your tooth pain and remove all traces of infection from the tooth in question.
Why Choose Advance Dental Clinic for Root Canal Treatment?
- Advanced Dental Technology Available
- Dentist with Decades of Experience
- Personalized Dental Treatment Plans for Each Patient
What Is Root Canal Treatment?
When infection progresses far enough in teeth, it can rot them from the inside, leading to severe nerve damage. Infection can also turn your tooth's root to an unpleasant pulp—the source of the pain that many people feel right before they seek professional treatment. This is the source of the stereotype surrounding root canals; the procedure itself is not painful, but the infection that prompts you to seek treatment can be.
To that end, opting for an early root canal is essential to preserving your smile's appearance and health. A tooth infection that is allowed to progress can quickly destroy your tooth's root and nerve; this, in turn, can lead to complete tooth loss. If this is true for you, though, don't worry—our cosmetic and restorative dentist offers prosthetic options, including dental bridges.
The Root Canal Process
Root canals may get invasive, but they often don’t take long. Most can be done in only thirty minutes to an hour; only severe cases require ninety minutes or more.
The actual root canal process involves a few key steps. It starts by numbing your tooth with anesthesia, ensuring your treatment won’t hurt; you’ll only sense some pressure during care. Next, our team will use dental tools to reach your tooth’s interior and remove its pulp. We can then sanitize this inner area and refill it with gutta-percha (i.e., a filling material). Afterward, Dr. Bemani will wrap things up by sealing the tooth and giving it a temporary crown.
Depending on the case, you may attend a follow-up visit some weeks later. Dr. Bemani will then place a permanent dental crown to replace the temporary one. Ideally, this placed cap will protect your tooth for years to come.
Understanding the Cost of Root Canals
However much you need a root canal, you may worry about the treatment’s price. That’s only fair – saving a tooth won’t mean much if doing so “breaks the bank.” Still, the cost of root canals varies from one patient to the next; you’ll need to consult Dr. Bemani for an exact estimate. Our team will also make treatment as affordable as possible, walking you through its price factors, payment options, etc. Find out more by reading below or calling our office.
Factors That Can Affect Root Canal Cost
Dr. Bemani will assess your tooth closely at your consultation visit. That way, she can confirm the factors that affect your root canal’s cost. These include:
- Tooth Type/Location– A root canal can cost more or less depending on your tooth’s type or location. After all, different teeth have varying numbers of roots.
- Root Canal Complexity– A simple root canal may not cost much, but a complex one may get expensive. This second kind can even require help from outside specialists.
- Extra Services– Once you’ve had your root canal, you may also need a dental crown (or filling). Your treatment price will increase in that case.
Is it Cheaper to Pull My Tooth?
A tooth extraction can seem cheaper than a root canal at first, as its upfront price is lower. Even so, the second option is more cost-effective over time.
It comes down to how tooth loss (from an extraction or not) has harsh effects. For example, the smile gaps it causes can alter your bite and tilt your other teeth. Those same spaces also serve as breeding grounds for bad bacteria, raising your risk of tooth decay and gum disease. When you combine those facts with later restorative work, it’s clear that removal would strain your budget.
A root canal avoids the above outcomes, so it would save your tooth and your money. Just make sure to get one before an extraction becomes necessary!
Does Dental Insurance Cover Root Canal Treatment?
Dental insurance typically covers a root canal, which is considered a major procedure. The result is that most plans cover anywhere from 50 to 80% of the cost. That said, you should still confirm your insurance benefits before your treatment. Our office can even help you with that process.
Other Options for Making Root Canal Treatment Affordable
Whether you have insurance or not, you can make a root canal affordable. Just take a look at our office’s helpful and unique payment options. With the right one, a root canal will be budget-friendly.
In particular, consider our practice’s CareCredit financing service. It would let you pay for your root canal monthly with little or no interest. That way, you could gradually cover the cost rather than meet the full amount upfront.
As you can see, a root canal doesn’t have to be a drain on your funds. Just learn to finance it by visiting us!
The Benefits of Root Canal Treatment
Root canal treatment is a safe way to prevent further dental issues from arising later on. Here are some of the benefits that root canal treatment has to offer:
- Preserves Your Tooth: When compared to an extraction, saving a tooth with root canal treatment now can save you lots of time and money in the future.
- Stop Harmful Bacteria: Root canal treatment cleans away harmful particles that result in pain and discomfort.
- Painless Treatment: Root canal treatment shouldn’t cause you any pain. It is about as comfortable as getting a standard feeling. Root canals also require less healing time than a tooth extraction.
Choose a Locally Trusted Dentist for Root Canal Treatment
Trust your oral health to a dental team that cares about your comfort and satisfaction. As members of the American Dental Association, our team at Advance Dental Clinic is committed to your teeth and gums' condition. We encourage you to mention any questions or concerns you have prior to your root canal procedure—we'll do our best to put you at ease, as well as keep you informed as your treatment progresses.
If you're concerned about feeling discomfort or even pain during root canal treatment, relax—our dental practice offers a variety of sedation dentistry options to keep your procedure smooth. We know that not everyone feels the same amount of stress or discomfort during oral surgeries. It's one of the reasons we tailor our approach to each patient's unique needs.
Root Canal FAQs
How Long Does It Take to Recover from a Root Canal?
Recovery time can differ for everyone, but a lot of patients are able to return to school or work the day after their root canal treatment. If your job requires physical labor, you may want to take a couple of days off, as vigorous exercise can slow the healing process. You will likely feel some soreness for the next few days, but this can be managed with your over-the-counter and/or prescribed pain relievers. During this time, stick to softer foods and chew on the opposite side of your mouth as the treated tooth. You may brush and floss as normal, but be gentle around your treated tooth. If discomfort worsens instead of improving after three days, give us a call so we can help.
Can I Eat Before a Root Canal?
This depends. If you are being sedated for your root canal treatment, you might be asked to fast for a few hours beforehand. This helps to reduce your risk of nausea that can be induced by the sedative. However, if you aren’t undergoing sedation, it is usually recommended that you enjoy a healthy meal at least a couple of hours before your procedure. Since your mouth will be numbed for the procedure, you should wait until after the anesthetic wears off before eating. It’s also beneficial to avoid alcohol for 24 hours before your procedure, as it can interact negatively with local anesthetics.
Can I Take Antibiotics Instead of Getting a Root Canal?
Antibiotics can be used to treat bacterial infections in most areas of the body. However, they are not helpful against tooth infections. Antibiotics travel throughout the bloodstream to target infected areas of the body, but the bloodstream is unable to reach the pulp of a tooth. This means that it is unable to eliminate any infections there. If a tooth’s pulp is infected, the only option to treat it (besides an extraction) is root canal treatment.
Are Root Canals Covered by Insurance?
Dental insurance mostly covers routine, preventive care, like checkups and cleanings. By utilizing these services, the need for root canal treatment is minimized. However, most dental insurance plans will partially cover the cost of a root canal after you’ve paid your deductible and before you’ve reached your yearly maximum. Root canal treatment is generally considered to be a major restorative procedure. This means that it is generally covered at up to 50%.