Dental Resources
Root Canal Treatment
Root canal treatment is not a simple procedure because of the complexities of tissues involved.
Root canal is the space within the tooth, which contains all the important "goodies" for teeth to live.
There are nerves, blood vessels, lymph which effectively form a root canal pulp.
If things do get wrong within the root canal then a root canal therapy must follow.
Well paid root canal specialists - endodontists - are professionals who are qualified to perform root canal surgery.
Paradoxically, to avoid spread of infection, the root canal therapy often intends to actually make the tooth dead.
The root canal cost varies between teeth. Often front teeth are about 30%-40% cheaper then the molars
Root Canal Treatment - The Overview
If the tooth decay can cause serious spread of infection then it is time to remove the pulp tissue.
This root canal procedure is called pulpectomy.
First, the dentists drill the tooth in order to get into the pulp chamber.
Then these root canal specialists remove the infected pulp by scrubbing it out.
Finally, the root canal dentist fills the cavity with the inert material. Thus, the opening of the tooth is sealed.
This root canal procedure is called the root canal treatment. The root canal specialist is called the endodontist.
Generally, basic dental training provides enough insight to perform root canal therapy. However, more demanding cases require post graduate study in endodontics.
Root Canal Treatment - The Post-Mortem
After the pulp is removed, root canal filling follows.
For most cases the temporary filling material is a calcium hydroxide paste.
This alkaline material provides disinfection and reduces inflammation of the surrounding tissue.
Finally, root canal dentist needs to ensure structural integrity of the tooth.
In order to avoid pulp-less tooth from breaking, root canal specialists need to reinforce the tooth. This is often done with crowns.
Is The Root Canal Treatment Painful?
All root canal dentists guarantee that it is an absolutely painless dental procedure.
In most cases there is less discomfort then pulling teeth out.
There is a stereotype about root canal surgery that it is a "torture".
However, current advances in medicine eliminate the pain factor.
Many years ago, root canal treatment was done without anesthetic.
Those patients often fainted at the dentist chair.
Today, there is no reason to fear!
The Root Canal Cost
The root canal price varies between teeth. There is also a higher price for more demanding cases. Generally, the root canal cost for front teeth is $400-$800. For molar, you can expect $800-$1200. The root canal treatment is a necessary therapy. Therefore, medical insurances will offer rebates.