A root canal treatment is used to repair and save a tooth that is severely infected or decayed. Your tooth’s pulp and nerves can become inflamed, irritated, and infected due to deep decay, a crack in the tooth, large fillings, or repeated dental procedures. If you have no idea when you should get a root canal treatment, we suggest that you consult your dentist first.
What are the Procedures for Root Canal Treatment?
Root canal treatment is done in three procedures, and it usually takes between one to three sessions to complete.
Root Canal Cleaning
Before proceeding to the actual procedure, your dentist will remove everything inside your tooth’s root canal. You will also need to have local anesthesia before the procedure. Then, your dentist will make a small access hole on the surface of your tooth to remove dead pulp tissue using tiny files and irrigation solutions.
Root Canal Filling
After cleaning, shaping, and decontaminating the hollow area, then your dentist will fill your tooth with a rubber-like material, using an adhesive cement to seal the root canals completely.
After the root canal treatment, your tooth is already dead. You will no longer feel any pain in that particular tooth because the nerve tissue has been removed. The infection in your tooth has been eliminated as well.
Adding a Dental Crown or Filling
Since your tooth is dead, it will become more fragile than it was before. Generally, a tooth with no pulp must receive nutrients from the ligament that attaches the tooth to the bone. The supply is only enough, but sooner, the tooth will become more brittle. Thus, it is recommended to get a dental crown or filling for protection.
You should wait for the crown or filling to be completed before chewing on the tooth. Once there is a dental filling or crown, you can use the tooth just like before. Root canal treatment in Ontario usually takes only one appointment, but if you have multi-canals, curved canals, or severe infections, it could take one or two appointments.
When is Root Canal Therapy Needed?
So, when should I get root canal treatment? Treatment for your root canal is only required when your dental X-rays show that a bacterial infection has infected the pulp and tooth nerves. Bacteria can gradually kill the pulp in your teeth, allowing the bacteria to multiply more and spread throughout your teeth.
The symptoms of a pulp infection include:
- pain when eating or drinking a hot or cold drink
- pain when biting
- a loose tooth
Take note that as the infection develops, these symptoms often disappear, a sign that the pulp already died. Your tooth will then be healed. However, the infection will now spread through the root canal system.
Root canal problem starts with these symptoms:
- pain when chewing
- swelling of the gum near the affected area and tooth
- pus oozing from the damaged tooth
- facial swelling
- tooth appears to be darker in colour
How Much is the Cost of Root Canal Therapy?
A root canal treatment cost varies depending on several factors like teeth position, condition, number of sessions, and other needed dental examinations. In Toronto, the price of root canal therapy ranges from $500 – $6,000. The average cost you need to pay for a root canal procedure is around $1,000, depending on which tooth needs it.
Getting root canal treatment on molars is significantly more expensive than on front teeth and bicuspids. For molars, expect to pay about $500 to $2,000. On the other hand, the root canal treatment cost for front teeth ranges from $300 to $1,500 since it only has one canal. When it comes to your bicuspids, the price ranges from $400 to $1,800. All in all, if all of these teeth need root canal treatment, the cost will be as much as $5,000.
Below are the average costs of a root canal procedure by tooth:
- Front teeth: the typical range is about $900 to $1,100.
- Bicuspids: The cost of root canal treatment for a bicuspid is a little more expensive than the front teeth. Its typical fee ranges from $900 to $1,100.
- Molars: Getting treatment for your molar root canal is the most costly among the three, with its typical cost ranges between $1,000 to $1,300.
Final Thoughts
The purpose of a root canal treatment is to remove infected pulp in your tooth. If left untreated, the infection inside the root will worsen and may affect your tooth’s bone and surrounding area. It can lead to severe dental complications, as well. Therefore, if you need the treatment, it’s better to get a root canal treatment in Ontario as soon as possible.
If you plan to get a dental treatment, you may visit Thornhill Dental. You may call us at 905-771-8100 to book your appointment.