How much does root canal treatment cost?

The root canal system is in the tooth root. If the root canal is infected, you need to see your dentist receive root canal treatment which helps eliminate bacteria and save that one tooth. This procedure is usually called the root canal. The following article will help you answer a few frequently asked questions such as what a root canal is, what happens during a root canal, whether it hurts, or how much it usually costs. You will probably still feel concerned having to receive a root canal yet you should at least learn the basic information to have better mental preparation for the procedure.

What causes infected tooth pulp?

A root canal is a procedure that deeply “penetrates” into the tooth canal to remove the infected tooth pulp.

Infected tooth pulp can be the result of:

• Tooth decay without early treatment
• Damaged tooth filling or dental crown
• A chipped or cracked tooth
• Too many dental procedures on one tooth
• Tooth injuries due to accidents

After removing your tooth pulp and cleaning the root canal, your dentist will seal the hole inside your tooth to ensure long-term protection. Nonetheless, a tooth with a root canal treatment is weakened and more fragile than normal healthy teeth. Therefore, your dentist will likely advise you to get a dental crown to prevent other problems in the future.

Standard root canal procedure

Normally, a tooth canal treatment includes 4 steps and you will have to visit the dental clinic 2 to 3 times to complete this treatment plan. The number of times also depends on the tooth position as well as how complex the root canal system of that tooth is.

Root canal treatment procedure is usually simpler when it comes to front teeth as they are easier to work on and the tooth root canal is typically wider and harder. It also takes less time to fill the front teeth than premolars or molars.

The procedure of a root canal can vary a little at different dental clinics but it often includes the following main steps: 

• Open the root canal. Your dentist will drill a small hole on the top of the tooth (or the backside of the front tooth) to get easy access to the pulp chamber and the tooth root system.
• Clean the root canal. Specialized dental tools are used to remove the infected pulp. Then, your dentist will clean the inside of the tooth many times with water and an anti-bacterial solution.
• Weld the root canal and perform tooth filling. After widening and cleaning all the root canals, your dentist will weld the pulp chamber with dental materials to prevent the infection from recurring. 
• Attach dental crowns (not required). As the tooth will become more “vulnerable” after root canal treatment, your dentist will encourage you to put a dental crown over the top of your tooth for better protection. The crown can be made of porcelain or metals and is bound to your tooth after its enamel layer has been filed down a little bit.

Does root canal treatment hurt?

Many people are worried and may not want to receive this treatment as they fear that it will be too painful. However, thanks to the expertise of the dentists and the advanced technology used at The East Rose Dental (Old Rose Dental Clinic), the discomfort you may feel during the procedure will be minimized. A root canal is actually a method to treat pain as a result of the infected tooth pulp.

Your dentist will be administered local anesthesia before removing the pulp. If the procedure lasts longer than expected, the local anesthesia may start to lose effect and your dentist will ask you to signal when you start to feel pain. You will only need to raise your hand during the treatment should any discomfort occur.

After the procedure, your dentist will prescribe some pain relievers to help you feel better. You should also have soft foods or ground foods to avoid putting more strain on the treated tooth after the procedure.

How much does a root canal cost?

The cost of root canal treatment varies at different dental clinics, depending on:

• The quality and experience of the dentists as well as the facilities of the dental clinic
• How complex the pulp damage is
• The tooth size (especially the sizes of the tooth root and tooth canal)
• The position of the affected tooth (teeth that are deeper inside the mouth can cost more)
• The dentists atThe East Rose Dental (Old Rose Dental Clinic) will inform you of the final cost after evaluating your dental condition through X-rays. Nonetheless, you can still contact the clinic and describe your condition to receive the estimated cost for root canal treatment.

You can refer to the following table for the cost of a root canal at The East Rose Dental (Old Rose Dental Clinic):

The costs above are for standard cases and subject to change on a case-by-case basis.