Ever experienced excruciating tooth pain to a point of not sleeping at night?
Your sore tooth could probably need a root canal. No matter how frightening it may sound, when left untreated, it could cause infections to your vital organs. You need strong, healthy teeth to chew certain foods, fight diseases and boost your overall beauty e.t.c.
However, emergency dental care can be very expensive. Thus, doctors recommend regular oral check-ups to identify any potential problem in advance.
You might cringe at the thought of having a root canal and be worried that it could be painful. Apparently, if done by a well-trained dental surgeon, it should be painless.
If you’re the kind of person to get paranoid by imagining the worst scenarios. You should note that in case of a complication, the specialist will correct the problem.
Worried about the cost of a root canal? Luckily, some dental offices are open to discuss payment plans or affordable deals in order to prevent the infection from getting worse.
So, what is the average cost of a root canal? We got the answers for you. Read on to find out!
Average Cost of a Root Canal
The cost of a root canal depends on the tooth needing procedure and the strength of a patient’s dental insurance plan.
For patients with average insurance, the out-of-pocket cost could amount to $200 – $500. But if there is no insurance, the bill could go up to $1000.
Studies show that the average cost for root canals is $762 for a front tooth, $879 for a premolar, and $1,111 for a molar tooth. According to Texas A&M Health, over 15 Million root canals are performed in the U.S. every year.
The region of the country you live in may also determine the cost. People, living closer to the coasts, should expect higher prices.
Factors that Determines the Cost of a Root Canal
The cost of your root canal procedure will depend on the following factors.
Type of the Tooth
The front teeth are easier and less expensive to deal with compared to the rest, not because of the location in the mouth, but the number of canals.
The cost difference can vary anywhere between $50 to $300 or more.
Condition of the Tooth
For a cracked tooth, the cost of treatment will be different from one that has a swelling. Before the dentist performs a root canal, he/she would first treat the swelling, thus incurring the overall costs.
In the case of a severe infection, the number of sittings can increase. Luckily, a root canal can be completed in one sitting these days.
The Difficulty of the Root Canal
The more difficult the procedure, the higher the cost. If a general dentist is unable to do it he or she will refer you to a specialist.
In case you get an X-ray, you may incur costs for it.
Dental Insurance
Dental treatments are getting costlier by the day.
If your insurance covers the root canal, you might only have to pay half of the total costs. You will need to find a specialist who accepts your dental insurance.
Moreover, you can join a dental discount plan that will help you save on costs. Such programs have created a network of dentists who offer reduced oral health care prices to dentist savings cardholders.
What You Should Know Before Getting a Root Canal
Root canals aren’t as scary as you may think. Here is a summary of the things you need to know before getting a root canal procedure.
Antibiotics aren’t an Alternative Treatment
The bacteria that cause pulp infections are located in the root canal system, where antibiotics can’t get to work. Antibiotics only work by reaching the site of the infection through your blood.
The Procedure Should be Painless
Before the root canal, you will be given anesthesia to numb the tooth and surrounding area. The procedure is designed to alleviate pain.
When worried about the pain, you can talk to your dentist about it.
You may get Sore Afterward
In as far as the procedure will be painless, you may feel sore afterward. Communicating with the dentist on a suitable prescription to ease the pain will go a long way.
Protect Your Tooth
The dentist that specializes in pulp health will often place a temporary filling in the tooth and replace it with a permanent filling next appointment. But before it’s fully restored, you will have to protect your teeth as it is susceptible to fracture.
Your dentist will guide you on how to protect it.
Protect your Smile
When the soft tissue is infected, it can cause total removal of the tooth. But it is advisable to keep as many of your teeth as possible.
Pulling one tooth can cause the others to shake, thus leading to a change in how you smile and bite.
It’s not Over until It’s Over
You may assume that you can go back to chewing and biting anything once your root canal is complete. Chewing on the root canal may cause cracks if it’s too fragile.
Keeping your head in an elevated position when you sleep, may help ease the pain.
Conclusion
Your mouth will feel a lot better when you get the root canal, and you will realize it was all worth it.
You can save the cost of root canals with dentistry student clinics, whereby students will treat you under the supervision of their dean at an affordable price.
The outlined factors and cost breakdown will guide you through the planning process for getting a root canal.
