Root Canal Therapy – Frisco, TX
Don’t Be Afraid to Save Your Tooth
Root canals get a bad reputation as painful experiences. At Plush Dentistry, when patients need a root canal, our main goal is to make the experience as pleasant as possible. After all, root canals are used to alleviate an already painful situation. We want root canal therapy in Frisco, TX to be seen as the solution, not the problem!
Why Choose Plush Dentistry for Root Canal Therapy?
- Dental Office That Emphasizes Privacy and Comfort
- Advanced Instruments for Pain-Free Treatments
- Personalized Care from Expert Dentists
When is a Root Canal Necessary?
Root canals may be necessary for several reasons. First, when harmful bacteria reach the tooth’s root structure, an infection occurs. Generally known as an abscess, this type of infection causes swelling, inflammation, tenderness, and extreme sensitivity to heat or cold.
Additionally, you may need a root canal if you suffer trauma to a tooth. Any time the nerve is damaged, a root canal is necessary to preserve the rest of the tooth structure. Sometimes, a root canal is needed right away. Other times, you may have suffered nerve damage years ago, but your tooth is just now starting to discolor and lose nerve function.
Finally, we may recommend a root canal in some cases of ongoing infection, such as periodontal disease. In cases like this, the gum tissue often starts to recede, exposing the roots to the harmful bacteria that causes inflammation and pain.
Root Canal Process
We typically complete root canals in two visits. We begin by removing the bacteria and the nerve itself. We place medication inside the tooth and seal it inside with a temporary filling.
On the second visit, we clean, shape, and close the nerve system inside the tooth. We believe very strongly that this two-appointment approach ensures all the decay is removed, the inside of the tooth is properly cleaned and sealed, and that our patients are comfortable throughout the process.
While others may attempt to complete a root canal in a single appointment, we believe we get a more predictable result and a better experience with a two-step process.
The Benefits of Root Canal Treatment
Since root canals have a bad reputation, many patients are completely unaware of all of the benefits of this treatment. Let’s start with arguably the most important one: this restorative treatment can save your tooth from needing to be extracted! Furthermore, root canals can effectively eliminate the infection before it spreads throughout your mouth, the procedure is virtually painless, and restorations used to protect your treated tooth are incredibly lifelike. It’s also worth mentioning that the success rate of this treatment is extremely high, so there’s a good chance you’ll enjoy the results for decades to come.
Understanding the Cost of Root Canals
There are usually all kinds of things on a patient’s mind when they’re on the verge of a root canal, and one of the biggest is the cost. For some patients, trying to make necessary care affordable for them is the most stressful part of the treatment.
For that reason we go the extra mile to make budgeting for care as easy as possible, which includes helping our patients to stay informed about pricing. To that end, here’s what you should know about the typical cost of root canals.
Factors That Can Affect Root Canal Cost
Of course, while it would certainly be nice to just tell you how much root canals cost, that isn’t really possible to do until we meet you in person. That’s because there are several factors that can affect the cost of a root canal in one way or another.
For one, some teeth—like molars—have more complex root systems than others. For that reason, the type/location of the tooth you’re treating has a lot to do with the cost of care. In the case of the most intensive treatments we may need to call in an outside specialist who will have their own rates for dental care.
Then there’s the restoration used to finish up the tooth, which in most cases will be a dental crown. This will incur its own cost and should be considered when thinking about the cost of care.
Is it Cheaper to Pull My Tooth?
At first blush, it may seem like removing a problem tooth is a cheaper option than a root canal. If you’re just looking at the treatments themselves, this is usually the case—however, this doesn’t tell the whole story.
Missing a tooth can have serious consequences. Not only will it leave a hole in your smile, but the surrounding teeth will also move to fill this gap, moving them out of alignment. Moreover, missing teeth will prevent you chewing food effectively, affecting the quality of nutrition that you get.
For that reason, it’s usually necessary to replace a missing tooth with a dental implant, dental bridge, or denture. When you consider this tooth replacement, extraction is the more expensive option by a fair margin.
Does Dental Insurance Cover Root Canals?
Root canal therapy is a major medical procedure only done when necessary, which means that they’re usually going to be covered by insurance. Every plan is different, but most of them will pay anywhere from 50 to 80% of the cost of care. We’ll help you navigate this system so that you can get the most out of your benefits.
Other Options for Making Root Canal Therapy Affordable
Even if you don’t have insurance, you don’t have to forego a root canal for monetary reasons. We have options available to you that can make the cost of care much more affordable.
For one, we have a membership plan where, for just $30/month, you can get 20% off of any dental treatment you receive from us. You’ll also be afforded a host of complementary dental treatments, including a free emergency exam.
We also accept CareCredit, which can be used to finance dental care and split it into affordable, low-interest payments.
If you’re in pain and need help, give us a call and we’ll talk about the financial options available to you.
Root Canal FAQs
We want each treatment to be a collaboration between us and our patients – that’s one of the many reasons we welcome any questions you have! Whether you want to learn more about the cost or what to expect during the procedure, you can always reach out to us to talk to a knowledgeable member of our team directly. Additionally, you can read on for the answers to FAQs about root canals.
Can Root Canals Be Prevented?
Dental damage can occur for numerous reasons, including a lackluster oral hygiene regimen. For that reason, root canals are largely preventable with a commitment to a good dental care routine! That means brushing twice a day, flossing and rinsing with mouthwash daily, and visiting us every six months for a dental checkup and cleaning. You should also take additional measures to protect your smile from harm, like wearing a mouthguard when playing sports.
How Much Pain is Normal After a Root Canal?
While you recover, you may experience some soreness. Don’t worry – we will provide you with detailed aftercare instructions to help keep you as comfortable as possible. If, however, you’re experiencing discomfort past the three-day mark or the sensation seems to be ramping up, then you should notify our Frisco dental team so we can conduct an exam.
Why Do I Need a Root Canal if My Tooth Doesn’t Hurt?
Many patients think pain is the most prevalent symptom of a severely decayed or damaged tooth. That’s not always the case though. In fact, if left untreated for too long, the infection can “kill” the nerve of your tooth, resulting in you not feeling any discomfort. For that reason, you need to consider other abnormal symptoms, including a pimple-like bump on your gums, discomfort when biting down, and dark discoloration on one of your teeth.
Can I Take Antibiotics Instead of Getting a Root Canal?
The short answer is “no.” Although antibiotics are known for their ability to eliminate infections in other parts of your body, they can’t treat an infection in your mouth. The reason for this is simple: your bloodstream doesn’t reach the pulp of your tooth. So, your treatment options boil down to root canal treatment or a tooth extraction.