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If the nerve inside the tooth becomes inflamed or infected it must be removed.
The inflammation or infection can have a variety of causes: deep decay, repeated
dental procedures on the tooth, or a crack or chip in the tooth. Signs of
pulp damage include pain, prolonged sensitivity to heat or cold, discoloration
of the tooth, and swelling and tenderness in the nearby gums. Sometimes, there
are no symptoms, and the infection spreads painlessly. 
When the pulp of a tooth is damaged, the only
alternative to root canal treatment is extraction
of the tooth. After an extraction, the lost tooth must then be
replaced with an implant, bridge, or partial to restore
function and prevent adjacent teeth from shifting.
This requires surgery or dental procedures on adjacent healthy teeth and can be far more
costly and time-consuming than endodontic
treatment and restoration of the natural tooth. As
effective as modern tooth replacements are, nothing is
as good as the original.
An opening is made in the top of the tooth, and the inside of the tooth is cleaned out all the way to the ends of the roots. The roots and tooth are then filled and permanently restored with a crown.
The first appointment is for the root canal itself, and for the buildup or the post. This takes between one and two hours depending on the complexity. At the second appointment, the tooth is prepared for a crown and a temporary placed. The second appointment takes around 1 1/2 hours. After two weeks, the final crown is ready and a short appointment is made to cement it on.
We will give you a treatment plan with exact estimates before starting, but as a general guide, a root canal with a buildup and crown runs around $1600. Front teeth can be less. If you have insurance, it would cost you around $500.
Root canal treatment should not hurt any more than a regular filling. We will get you
completely
numb before starting. Sometimes, people who need root canals are simply in a lot of pain
before we do a root canal. You may be a little
sore afterwards from the injection and the tooth
may be tender to chew on. Advil or Aleve almost
always takes care of any discomfort.
How
Many Years Will it Last? A tooth that has had a root canal is meant to last a lifetime, although there is still a possibility of getting decay or further damage. Also, some root canals are not successful in spite of our best efforts, but it is still the only way to save the tooth.
You may have concerns not covered here and we will be happy to answer any
questions you may have. If you need a root canal, we will make every effort
to ensure your comfort. Our goal is to help you preserve your natural teeth
for a lifetime.
