Root Canal

Endodontic root canals involve many steps. First, your dentist will drill a small hole in your tooth. The hole allows the dentist a passageway into your inner pulp to remove infected tissues. Often the pulp and roots will need removal. Tooth roots are only necessary to feel temperature sensations. Once a tooth is fully mature, removing the roots won’t harm your tooth. Root removal will help stop the infection from spreading in your mouth.

After the infected tissue is removed, thorough cleaning of the area is next. The tissue removal helps ensure the infection is completely eradicated. If needed, Dr. Shah will prescribe antibiotics as well to prevent lingering infections.

For completion of the treatment, sealing of the hole along with the dental pulp area is next. A safe and sturdy sealant is used to add stability to the tooth that now has missing pieces. Finally, a filling or crown is applied to the treated tooth to add strength and protection. So regardless of what tooth had the root canal, tooth-colored fillings or crowns can be used. The crown or filling will blend in perfectly with your surrounding teeth.

Believe it or not, modern dentistry can make the root canal treatment pain free. Advancements in pain mitigation have progressed a long way. There are antibiotics for swelling and numbing agents for pain. For patients with anxiety, there is also sedation. Our team is prepared to make your treatment comfortable and pain-free.

Performing a root canal successfully has many benefits you might not be aware of. In the past, receiving a tooth extraction was the only treatment available for infected teeth. Now with root canals, your tooth can be saved. Having missing teeth can cause your facial muscles to sag. This sagging, in turn, can cause one to look older than what they naturally are. Saving your natural teeth, in the long run, helps preserve your facial structure.

Root canals also bring the benefit of a better quality of life. With a filling or crown in place, you can normally eat without restriction. After the infection is gone, your tooth regains its strength. You will be able to bite down and chew normally again.

If the tooth needs pulling out, our office has other treatments available such as dental implants to replace your missing teeth.

So if you’re having a dental emergency due to severe pain or bleeding, call your Dentist Highland today. We offer same-day appointments. Don’t wait and hope the pain will go away. With years of experience, Dr. Shah will be able to help you get the pain relief you need while saving your tooth.

Root canal therapy costs between $600 and $1,800 per tooth, depending on the complexity of the case, the tooth’s location, and the number of canals. If you require a dental crown after a root canal, the total cost of the procedure will increase by $800 to $2000, depending on the type of crown and the materials it is made of.

A root canal therapy procedure can take 40 to 90 minutes, depending on the location of the tooth, the number of canals, and the severity of the infection or damage. Additionally, if a dental crown is placed on the tooth in the same visit, the entire process might take longer.

Root canal therapy is performed to save a severely infected or damaged tooth from extraction by removing infected pulp, cleaning the canals, and sealing the tooth using a special dental material. Unfortunately, once the tooth becomes infected, it can not get better or heal on its own. The longer you delay your root canal therapy, the more the infection will spread and can start affecting the surrounding tissue and teeth, or turn into a dental abscess. 

If the infection severely damages the tooth’s structure, the tooth can no longer be treated with a root canal and will have to be extracted, then replaced with a dental bridge or an implant. Both these tooth replacement procedures are typically significantly more expensive and complex than root canal therapy.

Most patients fully recover after a root canal procedure within 7 to 10 days. During this period, you might experience slight soreness and swelling at the procedure site, as well as tooth sensitivity to hot and cold foods and drinks. The symptoms will gradually subside as healing progresses, and most patients report immediate relief of pain from the infection before the procedure. 

Post-procedure soreness is typically managed with over-the-counter painkillers, and swelling is managed with cold compresses. Additionally, you will be advised to avoid irritating the procedure area when brushing and flossing your teeth, avoid spicy, cold, and hot foods and beverages, and abstain from smoking, alcohol, and strenuous physical activities. Also, your doctor might prescribe antibiotics to prevent complications and reinfection of the tooth.

We offer same-day and emergency root canal treatments at our office. If you are experiencing severe toothache, swelling, pus discharge, or bleeding in the area of the infected tooth, or if your tooth is cracked or chipped due to trauma, you likely require emergency treatment. Do not hesitate to contact our office at (909) 453-3673; we will do our best to admit you on the same day.  

The majority of dental insurances cover root canal therapy, as it is considered a medical necessity. Root canal can be classified as a major or basic procedure, with most plans covering 50% to 80% of the cost. If you require a dental crown after root canal therapy, it may be covered separately, with a lower coverage percentage. Additionally, the coverage depends on whether the dentist is in-network and if you have exceeded your annual maximum. If you have further questions about your insurance coverage, do not hesitate to call our office at (909) 453-3673.