Root Canal Treatment – Allen, TX
Alleviate Your Toothache and Protect Your Smile
Many people have a negative opinion about root canal treatment or assume their appointment will inevitably be long or agonizing and try to avoid it. However, this standard procedure is incredibly common, and it allows Dr. Lewis to alleviate your toothache and protect your smile in circumstances that might otherwise require extraction and replacement.
Continue reading to learn more about how getting a root canal can provide some much-needed pain relief as well as preserve your oral health!
Why Choose Allen Smile Design for Root Canal Treatment?
- Nitrous Oxide Sedation Offered
- Advanced Technology for Enhanced Accuracy
- Dental Insurance Welcomed & Financing Available
Do You Need Root Canal Treatment?
Although having a severe or persistent toothache is the most common sign that indicates you may need this treatment, you might also require one if you are experiencing the following:
- Extreme or prolonged sensitivity to overly hot or cold foods and drinks
- Sharp pain when biting down
- Swollen or darkened gums around the affected tooth
- Pimple-like lump on the gums at the base of the tooth
- Darkened or discolored enamel
If you notice these symptoms, please contact our team to make an appointment as soon as possible to keep your condition from progressing.
The Root Canal Process
It might vary depending on your unique circumstances, but typically, our team begins your procedure by ensuring that you feel comfortable. We offer various modern amenities, including nitrous oxide sedation, that can keep you relaxed. Then, we’ll numb the area with a local anesthetic to prevent the nerves from sending pain signals to your brain.
Next, Dr. Lewis will create a small opening in your tooth to access and remove the infected materials inside. Once that’s finished, she’ll disinfect the area to remove any remaining germs before sealing it closed.
Usually, our team recommends placing a dental crown as soon as possible to shield the recently treated tooth and allow you to continue using it normally. However, unless you are receiving a one-visit restoration, it can take a few weeks for this cover to be delivered. We might place a temporary crown to safeguard your smile until it arrives and can be cemented in place.
The Benefits of Getting a Root Canal
Although it’s normal to feel a little nervous about getting a root canal, this treatment offers several advantages that make it worthwhile, such as:
- Provide pain relief. You’ll be medicated, so the procedure itself usually doesn’t hurt and is used to relieve the pain caused by an infection.
- Preserve your natural tooth. If your damaged tooth is left unaddressed, it can become so severely damaged that it must be removed to protect your oral health, which carries additional risks of infection and jawbone degeneration. This can be avoided by fixing your troubled tooth rather than extracting it.
- Lifelike restorations available. Lewis can provide a beautiful, resilient dental crown to cap your recently treated tooth, improving its appearance and functionality.
- Long-lasting repair. Many patients can enjoy using their tooth as usual for the remainder of their natural lives.
Understanding the Cost of Root Canals
When you hear that you’re going to need a root canal, you’ll probably have immediate concerns—including questions about the total cost of care. However, while the procedure might seem pricey at first, it’s important to know what all plays into its total cost and why it’s actually very valuable. Here’s a breakdown of some of the factors to keep in mind and how dental insurance can fit into the equation.
Factors That Can Affect Root Canal Cost
Root canal treatment doesn’t cost the same for each patient; numerous factors affect the total price of care, including:
- The location and type of tooth – Molars tend to be more difficult to treat than front teeth due to their complex anatomy, meaning they’ll also cost more to treat.
- The complexity of the case – Lewis can perform root canal treatment here in our office, but in rare cases, a specialist might need to be involved, which means a different pricing structure.
- The need for additional services – Root canal treatment is often followed by a dental crown, which can add to the total cost of care. Other services like sedation dentistry may also factor into the total cost.
Is It Cheaper to Pull My Tooth?
You might be thinking that it’ll be cheaper (and easier) to simply have the tooth extracted; however, it’s important to think about the long-term oral health and financial impact of any treatment you choose. If you were to have the tooth removed, you would need to end up replacing it for the sake of your future oral health—otherwise, you’ll be at risk of bone loss in the jaw, bite problems, and other issues. Tooth replacement can come with a significant cost; on the other hand, root canal therapy is usually a one-time treatment that allows you to keep your tooth, making it more affordable in the long run.
Does Dental Insurance Cover Root Canal Treatment?
You’ll be happy to hear that dental insurance usually offers some coverage for root canal treatment. Depending on your policy, this treatment can see anywhere from 40% to 80% of its cost covered, but in any case, you’ll want to be familiar with your plan before committing to care. We know that dental insurance can sometimes be difficult to navigate, so if you have specific questions about your benefits or you’re unsure if you can use your plan to pay for your treatment, just contact our team for assistance.
Other Options for Making Root Canal Treatment Affordable
Even if you don’t have dental insurance coverage, you can still lower the cost of your root canal in Allen. In addition to being an insurance-friendly dental practice, we also offer financing through CareCredit and Lending Club. These financiers offer flexible, low-interest payment plans that allow you to break up the cost of your root canal into manageable installments.