What is a Root Canal?

Root Canal: Explained

A root canal is a quick, painless, effective and predictable procedure to remove the infected or inflamed nerve from a tooth. 

Root canals get a bad reputation from years ago when the procedure took much longer and because dentists might have worked on patients when they weren't completely numb. Probably not the best experience for a patient.

Dr. Dulac never works on a patient unless we have profound anesthesia meaning you are completely numb, and feeling nothing. Sometimes for a root canal, since you're directly stimulating the nerve when removing it or because the tooth is infected, it might require additional anesthetic, but it's always possible to establish profound anesthesia. Your comfort is always a priority for us.  A root canal shouldn't be a procedure that is feared today. With proper numbing the procedure is virtually painless.

Root canals also used to take a while because they had to be cleaned by hand. Today, we have rotary instrumentation to clean them more quickly and effectively. Root canals were also challenging because it was hard to see or feel the canal in some instances it can resorb (or "calcify") smaller than a human hair. But with cone-beam CT (CBCT) or 3D xrays we can now see the canal path, shape and size prior to beginning the procedure. Dr. Dulac has rotary instrumentation and CBCT in the office. 

The procedure starts and ends the same as a filling or crown. We administer anesthesia and confirm you are completely numb and then remove the decay. The root canal is then performed.  We remove the infected or inflamed nerve tissue inside the tooth, clean it, and fill it. The procedure ends with sealing the tooth with a filling or crown. 

In the past, we've received comments from our patients such as "wow, you completely changed my perspective on root canals" after their procedure because it was quicker than expected and pain free when they were expecting to feel something. 

How much does a root canal cost?

Root canals are covered by insurance. Please contact the office if you would like to get an estimate from your insurance about coverage. 

Root canals increase in price as you go back in to the mouth. The front or anterior teeth are at the lowest fee (as they typically have only one nerve canal). The middle or premolar teeth are at a slightly higher fee (as they typically have 2 canals to clean). And the posterior or molar teeth in the back are the highest in cost to treat (as they typically have 3 or more canals to clean). Insurance sets the fee and the coverage percentage based on your plan but a typical plan with 50% coverage on the procedure may have an out of pocket cost of $200-300 for an anterior, $300-400 for a premolar, and $400-500 for a molar. These are very rough estimates and vary significantly by plan so please contact the office (or your carrier) to get an estimate of your cost for the procedure.

Don't let the cost of a root canal be the reason you don't seek treatment. The cost of not seeking treatment could be detrimental to your overall health. We offer options for financing if cost is a concern. Please contact our office for more information.

Is a root canal my only option?

The alternate option to a root canal when a tooth is painful or infected is to remove it. An extraction may be quicker and cheaper than a root canal and may be indicated in some instances, but the root canal allows you to keep your own tooth and has less post operative discomfort. Although the extraction is cheaper, when you factor in the replacement cost with a bridge or implant to replace the extracted tooth, it's typically more expensive. It's always best to have the tooth evaluated and go over the options with Dr. Dulac or your dental provider so you can weigh the risks and benefits of both options. 

What happens if I choose to do nothing about my tooth ache?

Leaving in an infected tooth is never advised. A couple times per year it seems there are stories of someone "dying from a tooth ache." Here is one example of such a story: https://oneill.law.georgetown.edu/death-from-a-toothache-the-story-of-deamonte-driver-and-where-we-stand-today-in-ensuring-access-to-dental-health-care-for-children-in-the-district/)

This occurs when the tooth gets infected, and the infection is not addressed and it flares up. The veins in the head don't have valves to prevent back-flow like the rest of the body. The infection gets in the bloodstream, then passes the blood-brain barrier. Penetration of medications past the blood-brain barrier is more challenging and an untreatable infection develops leading to death. Although this is rare, it can happen. That's why it's always best to seek treatment for your tooth ache as soon as possible.

If you're in pain, the decay or problem is typically already into the nerve and a root canal or extraction is likely indicated. For both your comfort as well as your dental and medical health, please don't delay treatment. Contact Dr. Dulac or a dental professional immediately to seek treatment.