Root Canal Therapy – Panama City, FL
Don’t Be Afraid to Stop Tooth Pain
Did you realize that despite its reputation, root canal therapy is actually a solution for oral pain? The treatment itself will cause little discomfort, and afterward, you’ll experience relief from the toothache and sensitivity that often accompanies a dental infection. You’ll also save your teeth from needing to be extracted! Get in touch with us right away if you think you might need root canal therapy in Panama City, FL; you’ll have the best chance of success if Dr. Waheed sees you as soon as possible.
Why Choose Baldwin Family Dental for Root Canal Therapy?
- Multiple Forms of Sedation Offered
- Comfort is Our Number One Priority
- Welcoming Modern Dental Office
Do I Need Root Canal Therapy?
The pulp inside your tooth contains a mass of nerves. When the pulp becomes irritated, a toothache and general dental sensitivity will occur. Also, if the infection spreads any further, the tooth’s entire structure will be at risk, and it may have to be removed entirely. As such, root canal therapy is required to keep the smile intact. The pulp will be removed along with any other infectious debris. A fully developed tooth can survive without the pulp, so an extraction won’t be needed.
Possible warning signs that you might need root canal therapy soon include:
- Persistent pain in a particular tooth
- A visibly chipped or damaged tooth
- A tooth that’s sensitive to heat or cold
- Swollen gums
- Dark discoloration of tooth
If we suspect you might be suffering from a dental infection, we’ll carefully examine the tooth in question. Then, once we fully understand your situation, we can help you review your treatment options and determine whether root canal therapy is necessary in your case.
The Root Canal Process
Root canal therapy can usually be completed in just one or two appointments. At the beginning of the treatment, we will use a local anesthetic to numb your mouth. Sedation may also be used to help patients with dental anxieties relax. Once you’re comfortable, we’ll create a small hole in the tooth in question to remove the infected or damaged pulp.
The inside of the tooth will be thoroughly cleaned and sanitized to ensure that there are no harmful bacteria that could cause a new infection. We’ll then fill the space with a biocompatible material. The last step is to attach a customized crown to the tooth so that it can continue to function normally.
The Benefits of Getting a Root Canal
There are many reasons why we might recommend a root canal to patients suffering from a tooth infection:
- It allows you to save the natural tooth, meaning you can avoid the costs and inconvenience that would come with having it removed and replaced.
- It stops the bacteria in the tooth from spreading to other parts of the mouth, thus preventing even more severe dental issues.
- Thanks to modern technology and techniques, it is actually a virtually pain-free treatment. Many patients compare it to what they might experience when having a filling placed.
Understanding the Cost of Root Canals
When you’re first told that you need root canal therapy, you’re likely to have several questions. One of the biggest ones will probably be, “How much will the procedure cost?” The amount you end up paying for root canal therapy will depend on certain variables; we can give you an estimate after examining your tooth and carefully considering your needs. Rest assured that our team will work with you to make sure you can get the care you need without putting too much strain on your bank account.
Factors That Can Affect Root Canal Cost
Certain types of teeth tend to be more difficult to treat than others. For example, molars and premolars tend to have more canals to clean than the teeth near the front of your mouth. As such, root canal therapy for molars and premolars tends to be more costly. Furthermore, in some cases a specialist might need to be brought in to handle particularly complex cases; this can also have an impact on how much you end up paying.
Bear in mind that you might have to take the cost of additional services into account. In particular, you will likely need to pay for a dental crown to protect the tooth that was treated.
Is it Cheaper to Pull My Tooth?
When comparing prices, tooth extraction is usually cheaper than root canal therapy. However, this does not take into account the cost of a bridge or dental implant to replace the tooth. And while you can leave the space empty, doing so could lead to bite problems and other oral health issues that may eventually require costly care. In short, saving your natural tooth with root canal therapy tends to be the better financial option in the long term.
Does Dental Insurance Cover Root Canal Therapy?
Every dental insurance plan is different, so it’s best to confirm the kind of coverage you have with your insurance company before you agree to any treatments. That being said, root canal therapy is usually covered since it’s necessary for protecting your oral health. You can typically expect the insurance company to pay about 50% to 80% of the cost of the procedure after you’ve met your deductible. Note, though, that this is without taking your annual maximum into account.
Other Options for Making Root Canal Therapy Affordable
Patients without insurance still have other options for making root canal therapy affordable. Our practice offers an in-house dental membership plan; among other benefits, it gives you a 15% discount on root canals. And if you’re still having trouble covering the entire cost of the treatment all at once, we can help you apply for CareCredit financing. You can sign up for a plan that lets you pay in smaller installments over the course of several months.
Root Canal FAQs
Many people are nervous about having root canal therapy performed, but the more you know about it, the less intimidating the procedure becomes! Feel free to reach out to our team at any time if you have questions about how root canals are performed and what you can expect during the process. The following FAQs include detailed answers to many of the questions that our patients often ask when it comes to root canal treatment.
How Long Does It Take to Recover From a Root Canal?
There’s no universal answer to this question. In many cases, you’ll be able to return to your normal activities the day following your root canal procedure. However, if your job requires physical labor of any kind, you should plan on taking at least two or three days off; vigorous exercise can delay the healing process.
You’ll notice some soreness in your mouth for a few days, but it should eventually fade over time. You can keep yourself comfortable by eating soft foods and taking over-the-counter medications such as ibuprofen. If the pain seems to get worse, please call our office immediately.
Can I Eat Before a Root Canal?
It depends on whether or not sedation will be used. Some people might experience nausea if they receive a sedative while they have a full stomach, so it may be a good idea to fast so that you can avoid this side effect. But if a sedative won’t be used, it’s generally best to eat a healthy meal at least two hours before your appointment; this is because it will take a while for the numbness in your mouth to wear off after your procedure, which can make eating more difficult.
Can I Take Antibiotics Instead of Getting a Root Canal?
Some patients hear that their tooth pain is caused by an infection and assume that antibiotics can help solve the problem. However, while antibiotics can be an effective solution for getting rid of bacteria elsewhere in your body, they don’t work on tooth infections. The problem is that the bloodstream can’t reach the pulp of the tooth, and as a result antibiotics can’t get to the infection to treat it. As a result, root canal therapy is your only option for treating a tooth infection without removing said tooth altogether.
Do Root Canals Make You Sick?
No. Poorly conducted research performed in the 1920s did claim that root canal therapy could lead to an increased risk of disease in other parts of the body. However, this idea has no evidence supporting it and is considered to be debunked by dental experts. If anything, delaying root canal therapy could actually make you sick because the untreated infection will have more of an opportunity to spread beyond the roots of the tooth and attack the rest of your mouth and other areas.
Do I Still Need a Root Canal if My Toothache Went Away?
Whether you’ve been dealing with sharp, stabbing tooth pain or a dull, consistent discomfort, you might think that your lack of symptoms is good news. In reality, it’s likely the result of the infection “killing” the nerve of your tooth. At this point, it’s only a matter of time until the surrounding teeth and gums are negatively impacted, so it’s still extremely important that you come to our office for the necessary restorative care.
How Much Pain is Normal After a Root Canal?
Once the numbing agent wears off, you can expect to feel some soreness and sensitivity. The good news is that most patients feel completely better by the three-day mark. Plus, there are several ways you can stay comfortable while you’re healing – from taking OTC pain medication to using cold compresses and rinsing with warm saltwater.
Can Root Canals Be Prevented?
The reason we prioritize preventive care is because it can save you from numerous problems, including extensive decay. In other words, “Yes, root canals can typically be prevented!” In addition to brushing, flossing, and rinsing with mouthwash consistently, we encourage our patients to break bad habits, like smoking, visit us twice a year for a dental checkup and teeth cleaning, and wear a mouthguard during sports or at night if you grind/clench your teeth.
Note: If you start to experience pain when biting down, persistent dental sensitivity, or any other abnormal symptoms, then schedule an appointment with our Panama City dental team within the next day or two.
What Happens if You Wait Too Long for a Root Canal?
The reason we recommend moving forward with the restorative care you need right away is because there will eventually come a time when we can’t save your tooth. In that case, we will need to extract it and replace it with the next best thing: a dental bridge or implant. Although these restorations are custom-made from the best dental materials (which ensures they look and feel great), we always want to save your natural teeth whenever possible.
What Should I Do Before a Root Canal?
First, let’s discuss what you shouldn’t do. You shouldn’t smoke, drink alcohol, or engage in any unhealthy dental habits, like chewing on ice. Instead, you should buy everything you need for the recovery period, like soft foods and over-the-counter pain medication, get a good night’s sleep the night before, and eat a healthy meal the morning of. If you’re being sedated, then you should arrange for a trusted adult to drive you home from your appointment as well.
Can I Take Antibiotics Instead of Getting a Root Canal?
Although antibiotics are incredibly effective at treating bacterial infections in your body, they don’t work on tooth infections. That’s because the medicine travels through your bloodstream, and your bloodstream cannot reach the pulp of your tooth. In other words, the only way to eliminate the infection is by providing the necessary restorative dental care, like a root canal.