Root Canal FAQ in Spring Hill FL

commonly asked root canal questions

•  What is a root canal?
• Is tooth extraction a better alternative?
• How much does a root canal cost?
• If I’m not in pain, why do I need a root canal?
• How do I know if I need a root canal?
• What is a CT scan used for?

If you’ve only ever heard of a root canal and not ever had one, the name itself may conjure bad thoughts and possibly inaccurate information as your imagination runs wild. The truth is root canal treatment is common, routine, and nothing to be afraid of. Since most people will undergo a root canal during their lifetime, we’ve created this guide to help you understand the facts and eliminate any anxiety around the procedure.

What is a root canal?

When a tooth is badly damaged, decayed, or fractured, we use a root canal therapy to stop the spread of decay, disease, and pain.

 

Would extraction (pulling the tooth) be a better alternative?

Saving your natural teeth, if possible, is the very best option. Nothing can completely replace your natural tooth. For example, keeping your own teeth is important so that you can continue to enjoy a wide variety of foods and maintain proper nutrient balance in your diet. If your dentist recommends extraction, ask whether root canal treatment is an option.

 

How much does a root canal cost?

Endodontic treatment, along with appropriate restoration, is a cost-effective way to treat teeth with a damaged pulp. Usually less expensive than an extraction or the placement of a bridge or an implant, endodontic treatment also has a very high success rate. It’s not uncommon for root canal treated teeth at our practice to last a lifetime. Placement of a bridge or an implant will require significantly more time in treatment and may result in further procedures needed to restore damaged adjacent teeth and supporting tissues.

If the tooth isn’t bothering me, why do I need a root canal?

You may experience tooth pain, due to infection, initially, and then it goes away on its own or with the help of antibiotics. But remember, just because it has stopped hurting doesn’t mean it is no longer infected. Root canal treatment is designed to disinfect the inside of the tooth (the source of infection) and stop the spread of infection. In other words, a root canal gets to the root of the matter.

 

How do I know if I have a root canal?

Some patients may never experience pain with an infected tooth. In fact, root canal infection is often discovered through routine radiographs and/or clinical examination. The tooth may have a chronic infection that has not gone beyond the patient’s pain threshold because the body has accommodated it. Come in for a  consultation and Dr. Heydrich will thoroughly examine all radiographic and clinical findings to determine if a root canal is indicated.

What is the use of a CT scan in root canal treatment?

Today’s contemporary endodontic treatments have changed some of the traditional practices of dentistry. The advancements of new equipment, like cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT), are changing how an endodontist determines a patient’s root canal condition and treatment. A CT scan produces an accurate, high quality, detailed 3D X-ray image. The images deliver incredible features of the tooth’s structure, the surrounding tissue conditions, and the jaw’s bone structure.

CBCT scans help reveal extra root canal anatomy, traumatic fractures, missed canals, resorptions, and perforations and help us get properly oriented during treatment. CBCT scans have been shown to locate significantly more canals in root-filled teeth than traditional x-rays alone.