Root Canal Treatment – New Bedford, MA
Eliminate the Infection, Save Your Tooth!
When a tooth develops an infection deep inside the dental pulp (the innermost layer of a tooth), it usually causes quite a bit of pain because this is where the delicate nerve is located. Rather than just extracting the tooth like dentists of the past, we can fully repair it with root canal treatment. So, if you have a toothache that just won’t go away, don’t hesitate to give us a call today. A root canal might be exactly what you need!
Why Choose Clear Coast Dental for Root Canal Treatment?
- Patient Comfort Is Priority #1
- Able To Save Extremely Damaged Teeth From Extraction
- Highly Skilled & Experienced Team
Do You Need Root Canal Treatment?
One of the most common warning signs of a badly damaged tooth that we see at our office is a severe toothache. That said, there are several abnormal symptoms we recommend keeping an eye out for, including:
- Extreme tooth sensitivity to hot and cold temperatures.
- Discoloring teeth.
- Swelling and tenderness in the gums.
- A pimple-like bump on the gums near the affected tooth.
If you notice any of these, be sure to contact our office immediately. We’ll fit you in that same day so we can ease your pain and tackle the problem before it causes additional damage.
The Root Canal Process
Are you anxious about getting a root canal in New Bedford? When you don’t know many details about the procedure, it can leave a lot up to the imagination, making you worry even more. Rest assured, our team at Clear Coast Dental will do everything we can to make you feel comfortable and relaxed during your procedure, starting with numbing your tooth.
Once you’re ready to begin, we will access the inner chambers of your tooth to remove the pulp. Then, we will sanitize the area, fill it with a synthetic gutta-percha material, and seal it off to protect the tooth from harm moving forward. We will also place a temporary crown over it until your permanent one is ready to be cemented in place.
The Benefits of Getting a Root Canal
Thanks to the latest tools, advanced techniques, and effective numbing agents, this often-feared procedure is now reliable, safe, and virtually painless. But that’s not the only reason root canals are good news. They also have a high success rate, they can save your tooth from an extraction, and the cost is often partially covered by dental insurance providers. For all of these reasons, patients are often amazed by how smooth and stress-free the treatment process is!
Understanding the Cost of Root Canals
As much as you may need a root canal, you should still check its price before you commit. You’ll just switch out your dental problem for a financial one otherwise. That said, please consult our dentists for a precise estimate; the cost of a root canal varies by patient. Our team can then work to make your care affordable, helping you grasp its price factors and other details. For more information, please keep reading or call us.
Factors That Can Affect Root Canal Cost
We’ll need to assess your tooth to confirm your treatment’s price. This step (among other things) checks factors that affect root canal cost, like:
- Treatment’s Complexity – As a root canal gets more complex, its price typically increases. Dentists will charge more due to the therapy requiring extra effort.
- Tooth Type/Location – The type and location of your tooth also impact a root canal’s price. After all, some teeth have more roots than others.
- Additional Services – In harsher cases, a patient will require a dental crown or filling after their root canal. Such “extras” will raise your final treatment price.
Is it Cheaper to Pull My Tooth?
A tooth extraction costs less upfront than a root canal, but it’s still not the most cost-effective option. The former incurs more long-term expenses than the latter.
The truth remains that tooth loss – whatever its cause – has harsh side effects. Over time, it creates smile gaps that worsen your bite, tilt your other teeth, and harbor harmful microbes. The condition (if untreated) will thus increase your risk of cavities and gum disease, as well as further tooth loss. Addressing such issues involves a hefty cost.
Thankfully, root canals don’t have these side effects. They simply save and maintain the treated teeth, so they help you avoid costly dental work later. Therefore, please get one before an extraction becomes necessary.
Does Dental Insurance Cover Root Canal Treatment?
As a matter of fact, dental insurance generally covers root canal treatment. Most dental plans see it as a major (and necessary) procedure, so they meet between 50% and 80% of its final cost. Granted, this setup assumes you’ve met your deductible and have suitable benefits.
Exceptions to the facts above also exist, though. There’s a chance your plan doesn’t cover root canals, or your coverage may be quite limited. You should thus confirm your benefits before you commit.
Other Options for Making Root Canal Treatment Affordable
If you lack insurance, don’t worry – other ways exist to make root canals affordable. Key among them are our practice’s helpful payment options, which include the following:
- Dental Savings Plan – If you join our membership plan, we’ll provide you with a 10% discount on root canals. The only requirement is that you pay a monthly membership fee.
- Flexible Financing – Our practice is proud to work with Wisetack, a reputable 3rd party financier. They’d let you pay for a root canal in manageable monthly installments.
You don’t have to strain your finances to afford a root canal. Instead, please visit our office – we’ll strive to make your treatment fit your budget!
Root Canal FAQs
Do I Need Sedation Dentistry for a Root Canal?
The great news about root canals is that, although they have a bad reputation for being painful, they’re actually not. At Clear Coast Dental, we go out of our way to ensure that our patients experience virtually no pain during their procedure. However, if you’re suffering from anxiety before your appointment, you may benefit from sedation dentistry techniques to ease your worries. That way, you can get a decent night of rest the day before your procedure and arrive at our office feeling ready to tackle your oral health problem.
Is a Root Canal My Only Option?
When tooth infections are left untreated, they will only get worse. A severe toothache that landed you in our office in the first place will eventually spread to other teeth, and can even cause your tooth to die, resulting in the need for an extraction if a root canal isn’t performed.
When you take care of the problem with a root canal, you can preserve your natural tooth, restore your oral health, and prevent any additional damage from occurring. However, when you wait until you need a tooth extraction, you’ll need to replace your missing tooth with a restoration, which means that you can expect multiple additional visits to our office. Not to mention, a tooth extraction will require additional recovery time and can impact the alignment and health of your surrounding teeth if you don’t fill the gap in your smile.
What Is the Recovery Process for Root Canal Treatment?
Most of our patients report slight tenderness and sensitivity for a few days following their procedure, but it’s typically nothing that can’t be managed with over-the-counter pain medication like ibuprofen. For the most part, this discomfort only lasts for about three days as your tooth heals and your mouth adjusts.
To help with any swelling, you can place an ice pack on your cheek or jaw for 10 minutes on, 10 minutes off. It’s also important to continue brushing and flossing daily, just be sure to be gentle until your discomfort subsides.
Can Root Canals Be Prevented?
When you prioritize your oral health, your risk of dental damage decreases significantly. So, if you want to avoid needing a root canal (or needing another root canal), start with the basics: brushing, flossing, and rinsing with mouthwash consistently. Then, focus on other healthy habits you can add to your routine, like cutting back on added sugar and wearing a mouthguard when you’re active.
Important reminder: Your biannual visits ensure we can catch and treat dental trouble in the early stages, so make sure to prioritize them!
How Long Does It Take to Recover from a Root Canal?
Recovery time from a root canal differs from person to person; however, most patients can return to work or school the day after their procedure.
If your job requires physical labor, try to take at least the next two or three days off, as vigorous exercise can make the healing process take longer by diverting blood from the healing tooth.
Your mouth will likely be sore for the next few days. Be sure to take your prescription or over-the-counter pain reliever as directed to help with this.
During this period, it is also important to eat only soft foods and chew on the opposite side of the mouth as the tooth that had the root canal.
You can brush and floss as normal but be very gentle around the treated tooth.
Should you experience any worsening pain after about three days, or any signs of infection such as a fever or swelling, please call us immediately for help.
How Much Pain is Normal After a Root Canal?
Because your mouth will be numbed, the root canal procedure itself shouldn’t hurt; however, some discomfort and soreness over the next few days is perfectly normal.
After the numbness wears off, you’ll likely experience some mild pain and sensitivity, but this should be temporary. Over-the-counter pain relievers such as acetaminophen and ibuprofen should be enough to manage it in most cases.
Be sure to avoid chewing any hard foods during the recovery period, as this could worsen your discomfort.
Any pain should begin to subside after about three days, but if it doesn’t, please call us right away.
How Long Do Root Canals Last?
Root canals have an extremely high success rate. In fact, most teeth that have been treated with a root canal go on to provide full chewing function for many years, or even a lifetime.
The longevity of your root canal will depend on various factors including the extent of damage to the tooth and how much time has elapsed between placing the temporary crown and the permanent crown or filling. Should too much time go by, the tooth could be vulnerable to reinfection.
To help ensure that your root canal lasts as long as possible, follow your dentist’s post-operative instructions and be sure to practice excellent oral hygiene.
Can I Take Antibiotics Instead of Getting a Root Canal?
Although antibiotics can treat bacterial infections in almost every other part of the body, they don’t work on tooth infections. That’s because to work properly, antibiotics must travel through the bloodstream to target infected areas of the body. Unfortunately, the bloodstream cannot reach the pulp of a tooth, and therefore antibiotics cannot eliminate infections there.
Should a tooth’s pulp become infected, the only way to treat it (besides a complete extraction) is a root canal treatment.
