How Much Does a Root Canal Cost
Having a root canal richmond va is often a necessary treatment to save a tooth that might otherwise need to be extracted. There are a few factors that come into play which can affect the overall cost of root canal treatment including the number of canals, the location of the tooth, and the extent of the infection. A fracture or a decayed tooth will not heal itself so if you experience temperature sensitivities while eating and drinking or sensitivity to sugars, it is important to see your Dentist as soon as possible to have the tooth evaluated. If your Dentist believes that you would benefit from a root canal, they will refer you to an Endodontist.
Cost Affecting Factors For Root Canal Therapy
Location, location, location
Anterior teeth, those in the front of your mouth that show when you smile, usually only have one canal per tooth and are much easier to treat than teeth in the back of your mouth. Treating an anterior tooth only takes about 30 minutes to 45 minutes and costs between $500 and $800. Treating teeth in the back of your mouth, your molars and premolars, is a bit more challenging. These teeth typically have between two and four, even as many as five, canals and can take an hour and 45 minutes to treat. The cost of a root canal on a posterior tooth is between $850 and $1300. Then of course there is the geographical location of the dental office! Patients that live in a big city will usually pay more than patients being treated in a small town.
Teeth with extensive damage may also be more challenging to treat and may require more than one visit. This will add to the overall cost of treatment, though the appointments should be billed as one.
How do I know if I need root canal therapy treatment?
If you are experiencing any type of sensitivity or pain, it is important to go ahead and see your dentist as soon as possible before any further damage is done. There is also the occasion that the patient may not be in pain but the pulp and nerve are damaged beyond that which an antibiotic could treat. Tooth decay and other damage does not repair itself so it is important to proceed with treatment as soon as you can after a diagnosis has been made. A small cavity left untreated can quickly turn into a large cavity that needs more invasive treatment than a simple composite filling. Without treatment, you may also run the risk of developing an acid abscess beneath the root of the tooth in your jaw bone which will need to be drained and treated with a round of antibiotics.
Re-treatment of a Root Canal Treated Tooth
It is possible for a tooth that has previously had a root canal therapy treatment to need treatment again. Overtime, a root canal treated tooth can become brittle since there is no blood flow to the tooth. If the patient does not maintain good oral hygiene, they can develop an infection in the tooth again which may need to be retreated with a root canal.
Financial Options
Root canal therapy is typically considered a medically necessary procedure so your dental insurance may cover some of the cost of treatment. If you do not have dental insurance, speak with your provider to see if they offer an in-house financing option or if they work with a third-party financing company such as CareCredit.