How Much Does a Root Canal Cost?

When it comes to determining the cost of your chapel hill root canal we can begin by saying location, location, location. There are several variables that go into each procedure. With over 15 million root canal procedures now a year in the United States we can summarize with some averages.

Location, Location, Location

The first variable is the location of the tooth in your mouth. If it is a front tooth that tooth will only have one root. If it is a pre-molar it will have two roots and if it is a molar it most likely will have three, sometimes even a fourth root. This difference will affect the time needed to complete the procedure and the cost. The second location variable is you will see a difference in the cost if you have the procedure done on either coast or in the Midwest. The Midwest is generally cheaper.

The Steps of the Root Canal Procedure

Once it has been determined that you have a seriously infected tooth an x-ray will confirm the problem. Either via a deep cavity, a fracture, a chip or a broken off tooth, bacteria has gotten into the soft tissue at the center of the tooth called the pulp. This pulp is full of nerves and blood vessels. The nerves usually sense hot and cold, the blood vessels deliver nutrients to the tooth to keep it living. If this pulp becomes infected it can very quickly become very uncomfortable and painful.

A local anesthetic is administered to numb both the tooth and the surrounding tissue. A hole is opened in the crown of the tooth giving the dentist access to the center chamber which holds the pulp. The infected pulp is removed from this chamber and any roots involved. Once totally free of infection a rubber like material is places into the vacated space called gutta-percha. Then the hole is cemented closed.

The Cost Variations

The cost usually does not include the x-rays and sometimes it may take a second appointment to complete the root canal. Your dentist most likely will suggest a crown in the near future to protect the tooth from cracking or fracturing. Since it is no longer alive it will become fragile over time.

The Benefits of a Root Canal

If a root canal cost that much why not just extract it? Your dentist, and the industry, has been trained to do everything they can to maintain your natural teeth in your mouth. This tooth will prohibit the neighboring teeth from drifting into this gap, which would then have you pursuing a bridge or an implant to fill that gap. If you maintain good oral hygiene at home and continue to see your dentist twice a year for regular examinations you can get many years out of that natural tooth. You will also keep a natural smile that much longer.

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