What is root canal treatment?
Who performs endodontic treatment?
Why do I need a root canal?
What are the alternatives to root canal treatment?
How would I know I need a root canal?
Can all teeth be treated with endodontic treatment?
Will I feel pain during or after the procedure?
How much will the procedure cost?
What is root canal treatment? “Endo” is the Greek word for “inside” and “odont” is for “tooth”. Endodontic treatment is dental care for the inside of the tooth. Because of various factors, teeth can become inflamed or infected and require root canal treatment. These factors include caries, cracks, trauma, and previous dental work. Root canal treatment removes the inflamed or infected “pulp” tissue and restores your tooth to normal function. See our included video for more information.
Who performs endodontic treatment? Your general dentist is trained to do root canal treatment in dental school. Through out the country, most root canal treatments are performed by general dentist. If your dentist has referred you to an endodontist, they have recognized the difficulty in diagnosis, management, and/or treatment of your endodontic condition. An endodontist is specially trained in the literature, research, and techniques required to perform routine and surgical endodontic care. They are the Superheros of Saving Teeth.
Dr’s Nguyen and Moran have over 20 years of clinical and academic experience and have performed over 18,000 endodontic procedures. They are truly experts in the field of endodontics! Top
Why do I need a root canal? The most common reason for root canal treatment is the presence of dental and/or orofacial pain and swelling. Occasionally, patients will have no pain or swelling, but on an x-ray sign of a problem. In order to accurately determine if you need root canal treatment, your dentist or endodontist will see you to test your teeth and review a x-ray. If these findings suggest you need a root canal treatment, they will properly inform you and discuss your root canal treatment. Top
What are the alternatives to root canal treatment? When the pulp of the tooth is damaged, the only alternative to root canal treatment is extraction of the tooth or no treatment. To restore chewing function and to prevent adjacent teeth from shifting, the extracted tooth must be replaced with an implant or bridge. This requires surgery or dental procedures on adjacent healthy teeth and can be far more costly and time-consuming than endodontic treatment and restoring the natural tooth. Nothing is as good as a natural tooth. Top
How would I know I need a root canal? The presence of pain and/or swelling is the most common sign you need a root canal treatment. Occasionally on routine x-rays during your check-up, your dentist may observe a “shadow” or “dark spot” on your tooth, which may be an indication of a problem. If you have any of these warning signs, contact your dentist immediately. Top
Can all teeth be treated with endodontic treatment? Although all teeth can be endodontically treated, it is important to assess the prognosis of your tooth. There are various contributing factors including the ability to restore the tooth, past dental history, the endodontic diagnosis of the tooth, and your current and past medical history. Dr’s Nguyen and Moran can help discuss the various factors that will effect the prognosis of your tooth. Top
Will I feel pain during or after the procedure? With proper use of local anesthetic and sedation techniques, most patients do not feel any pain during the root canal procedure. Our staff is highly trained to make your visit for the root canal procedure as individually comfortable and tailored to your specific needs. Please be sure to advise our staff in advance of any concerns regarding anxiety, difficulty with numbing, gag reflex, difficulty opening or TMJ. Top
How much will the procedure cost? After a brief examination that includes a review of your medical and dental history, a detailed clinical examination of your tooth, and the appropriate imaging, our staff will provide you with a estimate for the necessary root canal procedure. Often times, your dental insurance will cover approximately 50-80% of the usual and customary fees for the procedure. If you require a cost estimate regarding specific procedures, please call our office at (206) 521-3636 and our trained staff will provide you with the necessary fees.
Often times, the cost of the root canal procedure and necessary restoration or crown to return your tooth to normal function will be considerably less than an implant-crown restoration. Please ask our staff to discuss the pros and cons with you regarding this subject. Top