Do You Need a Root Canal? Signs to Watch For
During root canal therapy, the pulp of the tooth (the soft, living tissue inside) is removed, and the resulting space is filled with special, medicated dental materials that restore the tooth to full function. Root canal treatment doesn’t just preserve your natural tooth and extend its lifespan, it also protects the jawbone and supporting tissues around the tooth. Wherever possible, saving your natural tooth also helps you avoid more pain and expense down the road.
There are a number of signs that may mean root canal treatment is necessary:
- Sensitivity to hot or cold.
- Severe tooth pain or persistent toothache.
- Red or swollen gums near the tooth.
- Discolouration of the tooth.
- An abscess (or pimple) on the gums.
The root canal treatment plan
Root canal therapy usually requires one or two office visits and is performed by either a general dentist or an endodontist. Here’s how we perform your root canal treatment:
Root Canal Diagnosis: Finding the Cause of Your Pain
The first step is a dental x-ray of the tooth and surrounding bone to help diagnose what’s causing your symptoms. Your dentist or endodontist may prescribe antibiotics to help manage infection and inflammation. The pressure from infected swelling is often what makes a tooth abscess so painful, and it’s a common source of discomfort during root canal treatment. Reducing this inflammation ahead of time helps eliminate that discomfort during the procedure.
Numbing and Preparing the Tooth
When we’re ready to begin your root canal treatment, we’ll carefully numb the area using local anesthetic to freeze your gums, teeth and surrounding tissues. Your comfort and peace of mind matter to us throughout the entire procedure. Once you’re comfortable, your dentist creates a small access hole in the tooth to remove the infected pulp, bacteria, decayed nerve tissue and any related debris.
Sealing the Tooth
Depending on the severity of the infection, your dentist may place medicine inside the tooth to fully clear up any remaining bacteria. If your root canal treatment requires multiple visits, a temporary filling will be applied between appointments. At this stage, most patients already start to feel relief from their tooth pain. Only once the tooth is completely disinfected and healthy can it be permanently sealed.
What Is The Cost of A Root Canal in Toronto?
The cost of dental treatment varies widely, but saving your natural tooth with root canal therapy is more cost effective in the long run than extraction and replacement. With a typical dental insurance plan, root canal therapy has an average out-of-pocket cost of around $200 to $500 or more. After an oral exam, we’re happy to provide you with an accurate quote for your insurance provider so you can find out your actual out-of-pocket costs. Without insurance, you can expect to pay anywhere from $600 to $1,200 or more for treatment.
Why is there such a wide range in the cost estimate? When we prepare a quote for root canal therapy, we consider factors like:
- The severity of the tooth infection.
- The location of the infected tooth in your mouth.
- The health of the surrounding teeth and gums.
- Complications that may require more time or a delicate, experienced touch.
No dental practice can provide an accurate quote over the phone. Every case is different, so it’s important to speak with a dentist who can evaluate your unique situation and walk you through all of your treatment options.
Do You Always Need a Root Canal to Save Your Tooth?
A tooth abscess or infection is a serious health concern and should be treated as an urgent dental matter. Many people think of root canal treatment as a last resort to end excruciating tooth pain. More importantly, root canal therapy removes an infection that can spread and become life threatening if left untreated, often requiring far more urgent and invasive care down the road. This is why we work hard to change the reputation root canal therapy has earned, and why your comfort and peace of mind matter so much to us.
If you think you may have a tooth infection but are hesitant about getting a root canal, we strongly encourage you to reach out to us anyway. We will never perform any procedure without your full understanding and consent, and we may have alternative treatment options available to help resolve your infection.
Contact us today
to schedule an initial consultation & exam.
Your consultation will include an examination of everything from your teeth, gums and soft tissues to the shape and condition of your bite. Generally, we want to see how your whole mouth looks and functions. Before we plan your treatment we want to know everything about the health and aesthetic of your smile, and most importantly, what you want to achieve so we can help you get there.
Frequently Asked Questions
By the time you realize you need a root canal, the pulp and nerve inside your tooth have already started to decay. This infected tissue can’t fully heal on its own and would only become infected again. Removing the pulp is the safest way to protect your tooth and prevent further infection.
By the time you realize you need a root canal, the pulp and nerve inside your tooth have already started to decay. This infected tissue can’t fully heal on its own and would only become infected again. Removing the pulp is the safest way to protect your tooth and prevent further infection.
Root canal treatment usually takes one or two office visits to complete. Simple or minor cases typically require about 30 to 60 minutes of treatment, while more complex cases can take longer, around 90 minutes.
That depends on the type of dental insurance coverage you have. After your consultation, we can put together an estimate to send to your provider. That said, we strongly encourage you to make root canal treatment a priority, since delaying it can sometimes lead to bigger issues down the road. If you’re feeling hesitant, please talk to us. We’re happy to walk through your concerns together.
After a root canal, you’ll typically need a dental crown on your back grinding teeth, like molars and premolars, since they handle most of the chewing pressure. Front teeth, canines, and incisors often don’t require a crown.
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