Preserve Your Natural Tooth and Protect Your Health
Root canal therapy is designed to save your natural tooth by removing the pulp (the living tissue inside) and filling the resulting space with a special, medicated material. This procedure not only preserves the tooth, but also helps to maintain the surrounding jaw bone and tissues. Keeping your natural tooth is beneficial, as it prevents future discomfort and costly treatments.
When possible, opting for a root canal can protect your smile and save you from more extensive procedures down the road.
Common Signs You May Need a Root Canal:
- Sensitivity to hot and cold temperatures.
- Intense toothache pain.
- Swelling or redness around the gums near the affected tooth.
- Discolouration of the tooth.
- An abscess (pimple-like swelling) on the gums.
We’re here to help guide you through a comfortable and effective root canal procedure. Reach out to our team at our North York office to learn more or book your appointment.
Root Canal Treatment Plan
A root canal is a safe and effective procedure designed to save your natural tooth while relieving pain. A root canal is a common procedure that typically requires one or two office visits. This treatment, performed by Dr. Natasha, helps alleviate the pain and restore the health of your tooth.
Here’s a step-by-step overview of how we approach your root canal treatment:
Diagnosis and Treatment Plan
To begin, we will take an X-ray of your tooth and the surrounding bone to determine the cause of your symptoms. Dr. Natasha may prescribe antibiotics to control infection and inflammation. Often, it is the pressure from the infected swelling that leads to the pain associated with an abscess, and reducing this beforehand helps alleviate discomfort during the procedure. In some cases, if your tooth needs extra protection or support, we may recommend dental crowns to ensure the long-term stability of your tooth.
Prepping the Tooth
When it’s time for the root canal, we prioritize your comfort. Dr. Natasha will begin by numbing the area and freezing your gums, teeth, and surrounding tissues to ensure you feel no pain. Once you’re comfortable, a small access hole is drilled into the tooth to remove the infected pulp, bacteria, decayed nerve tissue, and any debris. If the structure of the tooth is compromised after this process, dental bonding or a composite filling may be used to restore its integrity.
Sealing the Tooth
If the abscess is severe, we may place medication inside the tooth to completely clear any remaining infection. For more complex cases requiring multiple visits, a temporary filling will be applied. After the procedure, you will experience immediate relief as the infected tissue is removed. Once the tooth is thoroughly cleaned and healthy, we’ll seal it permanently to restore its function. In some cases, this may be followed by a dental bridge or dental implant if the tooth is too damaged to be saved.
Cost of a Root Canal in Toronto
The cost of dental treatment varies widely, but saving the tooth with a root canal is more cost-efficient in the long run. With a typical insurance plan, root canal therapy has an average out-of-pocket cost of around $200 to $500+. After an oral exam, we would be happy to provide you with an accurate quote for your insurance company so you can find out your actual out-of-pocket costs. Without insurance, you can expect to pay anywhere from $600 to $1200+ for treatment.
Why is there such a wide ballpark estimate of the cost? When we generate a quote for root canal therapy we consider factors like:
- The severity of the infection.
- The location of the infection in your mouth.
- The health of the surrounding teeth and gums.
- Complications which may require more time or a delicate and experienced touch.
No dental practice can provide an accurate quote over the phone. Every case is different so it’s important to speak with a dentist who can evaluate your unique situation and provide you with all your treatment options for your consideration.
Is there an alternative treatment to root canals?
An abscess or infection in your tooth is extremely dangerous and considered an urgent health matter. Many people think of root canals as some sort of ‘lesser evil’ to end excruciating dental pain. More important than that, root canals remove an infection that can spread and become life-threatening, requiring much more urgent and invasive care, and you keep your natural tooth. This is why we work tirelessly to fight the reputation that root canal therapy has recently gained and why your comfort and peace-of-mind is so important to us.
If you think you may have an infection but you really don’t want a root canal, we strongly encourage you to reach out to us anyways. We will not perform any procedure without your full understanding and consent and may have alternative options for you with the ultimate goal of resolving your infection. Explore our dental implants, dental bridges, or dental extractions if you are considering other options.
Let’s Take Care of Your Smile - Book Today
Our caring team is here four days a week, including until 5pm and Saturdays, to make dental care work with your schedule. During your first visit, we’ll examine your teeth, gums, bite, and overall oral health. We’ll listen to your goals and concerns and create a personalized treatment plan that helps you feel confident about your smile.
Frequently Asked Questions
Thanks to modern techniques and technology and a compassionate dental philosophy, our highly trained team of dentists and hygienists can provide root canal treatments with minimal to no pain at all.
By the time you realize you need a root canal, your tooth pulp and nerve have already begun to decay. This infected tissue will never fully heal and would only become infected again. Removing the pulp is the only safe option.
A root canal treatment usually requires one or two office visits. Simple or minor root canal cases usually take about 30 to 60 minutes of treatment, while a more complex case takes longer (around 90 minutes).
That depends on what sort of insurance coverage you have. After a consultation, we can provide you with an estimate to send to your provider. We strongly encourage you to make a root canal a high priority. Please speak to us if you feel any hesitation.
You typically need a dental crown after a root canal on your back grinding teeth, molars, and premolars. Front teeth, canines, and incisors may not require a dental crown.
If you’re experiencing persistent tooth pain, sensitivity to hot or cold, or tenderness when chewing or touching a tooth, these may be signs that a root canal is necessary. If you’re unsure, we can help you identify the cause during a comprehensive oral cancer screening and examination.
A root canal treatment is a safe and effective procedure that addresses the infection within the tooth, helping to prevent the spread of bacteria to other areas of your body. Maintaining proper oral hygiene and regular teeth cleanings can further help protect your overall health.
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