Root Canal Therapy - Torrance, CA

Factors That Can Affect Root Canal Cost

To determine the cost, we need to consider:

• The location and type of tooth. Compared to your front teeth, molars have a more complex anatomy. Therefore, the latter typically costs a bit more.
• The complexity of your case. With a dentist, prosthodontist, periodontist, and oral surgeon at our Torrance dental office, it’s extremely rare that we have to refer our patients to an outside specialist. However, it is something you need to consider, particularly if you’re visiting an office that doesn’t have all of these professionals in-house.
• Any additional services that are needed. For example, the restoration that’s used to protect the treated tooth moving forward, like a dental crown.

Is it Cheaper to Pull My Tooth?

Initially, you might think so! However, it’s important to consider the short and long-term costs. For example, a tooth extraction might be cheaper. However, you need to fill the gap in your smile ASAP with a dental bridge, denture, or dental implant (and each comes with its own price). If you don’t, then numerous other problems can arise – from bone loss to a misaligned bite – which can be costly to fix. Simply put, although root canal treatment might require a higher investment upfront, it is also typically a one-time treatment, and patients can enjoy the results for a lifetime.

Does Dental Insurance Cover Root Canal Treatment?

Typically, yes! Although the fine print on dental plans varies, it’s common for providers to cover anywhere from 40% to 80% of the cost. Of course, waiting periods, annual maximums, and the like will also play a role in your available benefits. Don’t worry – our team at Blue Coast Dental Group is happy to welcome dental insurance. In fact, we are in-network with some of the nation’s most popular providers, including Aetna, Anthem, Cigna, and Delta PPOs!

Other Options for Making Root Canal Treatment Affordable

With us, there is more than one way to save. In addition to welcoming dental insurance, we offer our patients the following financial solutions:

• Flexible Financing – Instead of paying for the entire cost of your treatment at once, you can space out your payments into manageable chunks.
• In-House Membership Plan – In addition to saving on essential preventive care, you can enjoy perks like a free emergency exam and a 20% discounted fee schedule.
• Special Offers – With our periodic special offers, you can lower your out-of-pocket expenses while improving the health, function, and look of your smile.

What Should I Do Before a Root Canal?

For starters, you should eat a healthy meal the night before your root canal. (Junk food could upset the affected tooth.) Ensure the dinner doesn’t include alcohol, either, as the latter would aggravate your pearly white’s inflammation. The same goes for bad oral habits like smoking or teeth-grinding.

After eating, the next step is to get a good night’s sleep the night before treatment. Not only will it make you less nervous, but it’ll also keep your immune system safe and help you recover more quickly.

Before your procedure, you might also want to take an over-the-counter pain reliever. Doing so will reduce the discomfort as the anesthetic’s numbness wears off.

How Long Does a Root Canal Take?

In general, a root canal in Torrance can be done in one appointment. For that reason, the treatment time can range anywhere from 30 to 90 minutes or more — it’ll depend on your tooth’s location. Sometimes, however, the therapy takes two visits. When that happens, the first appointment involves placing pain-relieving medicine on your tooth.

Keep in mind that molars have more root canals than front teeth. As such, your procedure will take longer if your pearly white is further back in the mouth.

How Much Pain is Normal After a Root Canal?

Thankfully, the root canal procedure itself shouldn’t hurt you. That being said, you may feel some soreness for a few days post-treatment.

Once the anesthesia wears off, you’ll likely experience mild pain and sensitivity. Still, this effect is temporary and can be managed with OTC pain relievers. Examples of the latter medicines include acetaminophen and ibuprofen.

While you wait for the discomfort to pass, you’ll need to be careful of your tooth. As such, try to avoid chewing hard foods during the recovery period.

How Long Does It Take to Recover from a Root Canal?

While root canal recovery differs for everyone, most patients can return to work or school the day after treatment. Even so, keep in mind that your mouth will feel sore for the next few days. Therefore, take prescribed or OTC medications as directed.

On the other hand, recovery is longer in some cases. For example, if your job requires physical labor, take the next two or three days off. Vigorous exercise would disrupt your procedure’s healing process.

Do I Need Antibiotics Before or After My Root Canal?

This is something that our team will need to discuss with you. Most of the time, taking antibiotics before or after the procedure will not be necessary. However, if you have some type of health condition that leaves you more susceptible to infections in general, then antibiotics may be prescribed as a precaution. Thus, a careful review of your medical history will be required before we can tell you for sure whether antibiotics are needed.

What Happens If You Wait Too Long for a Root Canal?

The consequences of delaying root canal treatment for too long can be very serious. The problem will grow more and more severe as time passes. Eventually, the pain might go away, but this is not the positive sign that you might think it is; it means that the infection has advanced to the point where the nerve inside the tooth has completely died. Ultimately, the infection could start to spread to other parts of your mouth, and it might even contribute to illness in the rest of your body.

Additionally, if root canal treatment isn’t performed in time, the tooth may eventually become completely compromised. Even if it could potentially have been saved before, it may reach the point where there’s no other choice but to extract it.

In short, it is in the best interest of your oral and overall health to have a root canal treatment performed as soon as possible, so take whatever steps are necessary to find room in your schedule.

Can Root Canals Be Prevented?

If you would like to keep your chances of needing a root canal treatment to a minimum, you need to make an effort to practice excellent oral hygiene. Taking proper care of your smile is key for preventing tooth infections. Some basic steps you should take include:

• Brushing thoroughly at least two times every day.
• Flossing on a daily basis to remove food and plaque trapped between the teeth.
• Rinsing with mouthwash that has antibacterial properties.
• Visiting the dentist every six months for a checkup and cleaning.

Diet matters as well. You’ll be less likely to suffer from tooth infections and other oral health issues if you limit your intake of sugar and make a point of drinking lots of water.

Are Root Canals Safe?

Yes, root canal treatment is considered very safe. The procedure is successful in 95% of cases, and the teeth that receive the treatment can often last a lifetime afterward. There are rumors of root canal treatment increasing your risk for certain medical issues, but this is based on research from more than a century ago that has been thoroughly debunked.

That said, in rare cases, some bacteria may remain inside the tooth after root canal treatment and cause a new infection. As such, please let us know immediately if you experience swelling, fever, or any other symptoms that could indicate that reinfection has occurred.