Experience Dental Thornton - Thornton

Root Canal in Thornton

Experience immediate pain relief and preserve your natural tooth with advanced root canal treatments. Say goodbye to discomfort and hello to a healthy, restored smile.
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Root Canal Relief: Benefits and Signs You Need Treatment

In a root canal procedure, the pulp of the tooth (the living tissue inside) is removed and the resulting space is filled with special, medicated dental materials that restore the tooth to full function. Using root canal therapy not only preserves your natural tooth, extending its lifetime, it also protects and preserves the jaw bone and other supporting tissues around the tooth. Wherever possible, saving your natural tooth will also save you from more pain and expense down the road.

    Benefits of Root Canal Treatment
  • Pain Relief: Root canal therapy can provide immediate relief from the severe pain often associated with an infected or damaged tooth.
  • Preservation of Your Natural Tooth: This procedure allows you to keep your natural tooth, which is always preferable to extraction. It maintains the natural alignment of your teeth and prevents the shifting of adjacent teeth.
  • Long-term Protection: By removing the infected tissue and sealing the tooth, root canal treatment helps prevent future infections and the need for more extensive dental work.
  • Maintenance of Jaw Bone Health: Keeping your natural tooth preserves the jaw bone and other supporting tissues, preventing the bone loss that can occur with tooth extraction.
Considerations & Candidacy for Treatment
    There are several signs that suggest root canal therapy may be necessary:
  • Sensitivity to Hot and Cold: If you experience prolonged sensitivity to hot or cold temperatures, it may indicate damage or infection in the tooth pulp.
  • Severe Toothache Pain: Persistent, intense toothache pain, especially when chewing or applying pressure, is a common symptom that may require root canal treatment.
  • Red or Swollen Gums: Swelling or tenderness in the gums near the affected tooth can be a sign of infection.
  • Discoloration of the Tooth: A tooth that has become darkened or discolored might indicate nerve damage or decay.
  • An Abscess (or Pimple) on the Gums: The presence of an abscess or pimple-like bump on the gums is a clear indicator of infection that needs to be addressed promptly.
Is Root Canal Treatment Right for You?

Root canal therapy is an effective solution for many dental issues, but not every situation requires it. A thorough examination by your dentist will determine if this procedure is the best option for you. If you’re experiencing any of the symptoms listed above, consult with your dentist to discuss your symptoms and find the best treatment plan to relieve your pain and restore your dental health

Step-by-Step Guide to Root Canal Treatment

A root canal treatment usually requires one or two office visits and is performed by either a dentist or an endodontist. Here is how we perform your root canal:

Diagnosis and Treatment Plan

The first step requires an x-ray of the tooth and the surrounding bone to find out what’s causing your symptoms. Your specialist may prescribe antibiotics to help control infection and inflammation. The pressure from infected swelling is what makes an abscess so painful and is often the cause of pain during a root canal. Reducing this inflammation in advance removes this factor during the procedure.

Prepping the Tooth

When we’re ready to perform the root canal, we will patiently numb the area before freezing your gums, teeth, and tissues. Your comfort and peace of mind are important to us. Once you’re comfortable, an access hole is drilled into the tooth. The pulp, bacteria, decayed nerve tissue, and related debris are removed.

Sealing the Tooth

Depending on the severity of the abscess, we may put some medicine inside the tooth to completely clear up any infection. If the procedure requires multiple visits, a temporary filling will be applied. At this point, you will already feel some relief. Only when your tooth is thoroughly cleaned and healthy can it be permanently sealed.

Cost of a Root Canal in Thornton

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.

Factors Influencing Cost

    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: More severe infections might require more extensive treatment.
  • The Location of the Infection: The position of the tooth in your mouth can affect the complexity and cost of the procedure.
  • The Health of Surrounding Teeth and Gums: Poor oral health around the affected tooth might complicate the procedure.
  • Complications: Additional time and expertise may be needed for complicated cases, which can increase the cost.

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.

Alternative Treatments 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. This is why we work tirelessly to fight the reputation that root canal therapy has 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.

Contact us today

to schedule an initial consultation & exam.

Your consultation will include an examination of everything from your teeth, gums and soft tissues to the shape and condition of your bite. Generally, we want to see how your whole mouth looks and functions. Before we plan your treatment we want to know everything about the health and aesthetic of your smile, and, most importantly, what you want to achieve so we can help you get there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Modern root canal procedures are relatively painless due to advanced techniques and anesthesia. Most patients report that the discomfort is comparable to getting a filling.

A root canal typically takes one or two visits to complete. Each visit can last between 60 to 90 minutes, depending on the complexity of the case.

With proper care, a root canal-treated tooth can last a lifetime. It’s essential to maintain good oral hygiene and visit your dentist regularly.

The main alternative to a root canal is tooth extraction. However, saving your natural tooth with a root canal is usually preferable as it maintains the natural alignment of your teeth and preserves jawbone health.

Yes, many dental insurance plans cover part or all of the cost of root canal treatment. Coverage varies, so check your plan for details.

Yes, children may need root canals if their permanent teeth are damaged or infected. Treatment may be modified based on their age and dental development.

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