Root Canal Therapy – Aspen Hill, MD

Factors That Can Affect Root Canal Cost

When you come in for your appointment with your emergency dentist in Aspen Hill, we will examine your mouth before providing a cost estimate for your root canal. Some factors that could influence its pricing are:

• The type or location of the tooth. Incisors generally range from $300-1,000. Premolars are usually in the range of $400-1,800 as compared to $500-2,000 for molars. Pricing is directly related to how involved the treatment is – molars have multiple roots while incisors only have one. 
• The complexity of the case. Depending on the difficulty of the procedure, it might be necessary to involve a specialist. They may operate under a different price structure than we do.
• Additional services are involved. For example, a dental crown may be recommended to help protect and fully restore your tooth. A crown means an additional expense, and the cost will depend on the type of tooth.

Is It Cheaper to Pull My Tooth?

If money is tight, you might be tempted to go for a tooth extraction instead of root canal therapy. It is true that in the near term, removing a tooth is less expensive than preserving it. However, a root canal can certainly be more affordable in the long run. Not only can it spare you from having to pay for tooth replacement but keeping your natural teeth can also prevent future dental issues that would incur further expenses.

The longer you wait to get a root canal, the more likely it is your tooth will have to be removed. Then, concerns about your bite being impacted to cause discomfort and difficulty eating enter the picture.

Does Dental Insurance Cover Root Canal Therapy?

Most dental insurance plans do cover root canal therapy. It is usually classified as a major procedure, meaning that 50-80 percent of the cost may be covered up to the amount of your plan’s annual maximum. You will need to examine your policy’s details to know for sure how it applies.

Our practice welcomes insurance. We will be happy to verify your coverage, file your claims paperwork, and help you understand your benefits.

Other Options to Make Root Canal Therapy Affordable

Beyond helping with your insurance, we offer other avenues to make your root canal therapy feasible:

• Financing: We can help you break up the cost of your care into smaller, easier-to-manage monthly payments with CareCredit. This is a great way to help your dental care fit comfortably into your budget, and many of the plans they offer have little-to-no interest!
• Membership Plan: You simply pay an annual fee, and you’re instantly covered for your routine dental care for the entire year, plus you’ll get 15 percent off other services like root canals. You also get one emergency exam per year at no extra charge.

 

In your time of need, we are ready to help with your root canal therapy. We’ll help you navigate the financial aspect, so don’t hesitate to contact our team with any questions!

Can I Eat Before a Root Canal?

Eating pre-root canal depends on whether you’ll be sedated for treatment. If you’re going to receive sedatives, you may need to fast beforehand to reduce your nausea risk. Otherwise, you should have a healthy meal a few hours before the procedure. Your mouth will be numb after it, making eating difficult.

 

Sedatives or not, you should avoid alcohol for 24 hours before the root canal. The chemical could interact negatively with the local anesthetic used to numb your mouth.

Are Root Canals Safe?

You might think a root canal would raise your risk of health problems. In reality, this idea is patently false. The American Association of Endodontists has debunked it and similar claims, as they stemmed from faulty research done nearly a century ago.

 

Furthermore, root canals tend to be highly successful. In fact, they have a long-term success rate of about 95 percent! As such, teeth treated with root canal therapy can (and often do) last a lifetime.

 

Admittedly, there is a tiny chance of bacteria remaining in the tooth after a root canal and causing reinfection. While highly unlikely, it could happen. You should thus let your dentist know if anything unexpected occurs after your root canal — intense swelling, pain, fever, etc.

Can I Take Antibiotics Instead of Getting a Root Canal?

True enough, antibiotics can treat bacterial infections in most body parts. Even so, they don’t work on tooth infections.

 

You see, antibiotics must travel through the bloodstream to target infected areas. Unfortunately, the bloodstream cannot reach a tooth’s pulp. For that reason, the medicine can’t eliminate an infection there.

 

Ultimately, root canal therapy is the only option for treating infected tooth pulp (besides tooth extraction).

What Happens If You Wait Too Long for a Root Canal?

If your tooth pain fades, you might think you don’t need a root canal. However, keep in mind that teeth can’t heal themselves. Consequently, fading pain often indicates that an infection has destroyed your tooth’s nerves.

 

Since teeth can’t heal such nerve damage, the infection will only worsen without a root canal. You should thus book one once your dentist says you need it. Otherwise, harmful bacteria could spread to the rest of your body and cause systemic illness. Furthermore, the tooth might become so damaged that it needs to be extracted.