Root Canal Treatment in Cocoa Beach
Saving Your Tooth from Extraction and Future Damage
Before root canals, if your tooth was infected, fractured, or deeply decayed, your only option was to have your tooth extracted. Having a tooth pulled is not only less than comfortable, but it will leave you with a noticeable gap in your smile. Thankfully, Dr. Lineberry and his team can expertly perform root canal therapy to save your tooth from extraction and protect it from more damage. If you’re experiencing pain, irritation, or sensitivity in a tooth, you may need root canal treatment in Cocoa Beach. Contact our dental office today to get out of pain and save your tooth.
Why Choose Lineberry Dental of Cocoa Beach for Root Canal Treatment?
- Same-Day Emergency Treatments Available
- CEREC Same-Day Dental Crowns
- Sedation Dentistry for Anxious Patients
What is a Root Canal?
Root canals are normally needed when severe tooth decay has penetrated your enamel, reaching the sensitive portion of your tooth structure. During root canal therapy, Dr. Lineberry will remove the infected or damaged area of the tooth, cleaning out any decay that could cause damage in the future. He will finish by sealing your tooth and placing a crown over it to protect it from potential damage. Dental crowns restore the natural look of your smile while also protecting the affected area to decrease your risk of decay and infection in the future.
Why Do I Need a Root Canal?
Root canal therapy is needed when the dental pulp (inside portion of your tooth) becomes infected. If your damaged root canals are left untreated, they can cause infection and serious issues that can affect other parts of your oral health. Infection can lead to an abscessed tooth, which will become extremely painful and need to be extracted if a root canal isn’t performed. Dr. Lineberry takes pride in being able to save teeth from extraction as well as preventing infection from spreading. If you’ve been having pain or notice a pimple-like abscess in your mouth, contact our dental office right away for treatment.
Does Root Canal Treatment Hurt?
Root canals tend to come with a reputation for pain, but in reality, they provide immense relief. Dr. Lineberry will make sure that your mouth is completely numb before starting. You won’t experience any pain during root canal therapy, but you may feel discomfort or soreness after the procedure. Dr. Lineberry uses a special material called gutta-percha that seals your inner tooth to prevent future pain, infection, and sensitivity. That’s why root canal therapy actually relieves pain from infection or decay rather than causing it.
Recovering from a Root Canal
If you feel some soreness or discomfort in the first few days after treatment, it is completely normal. You can take over-the-counter pain medication to ease any discomfort, but you should also get a good amount of rest. Additionally, a good oral healthcare routine will help speed up your recovery time. If you’re feeling pain after more than a few days, contact Lineberry Dental of Cocoa Beach for your necessary treatment.
Understanding the Cost of Root Canals
If you’ve been prescribed a root canal treatment, you may be wondering how much you can expect to pay for your care. The truth is, however, that because each situation is as unique as your smile, it is impossible to give an accurate price quote without being examined in person by Dr. Lineberry. To do this, schedule a consultation with us today. Until then, feel free to read more about how we determine the cost of root canals at Lineberry Dental of Cocoa Beach.
Factors That Can Affect Root Canal Cost
While it is difficult to determine the exact cost of a root canal procedure until Dr. Lineberry has had a chance to evaluate the tooth or teeth in question, there are several factors that may influence your total, including:
- The type and location of the tooth or teeth in question.
- The overall difficulty of the root canal procedure, and whether a specialist will be needed to assist with the procedure.
- If you require any additional services, such as a dental crown.
Is It Cheaper to Pull My Tooth?
While it is true that in many cases it will be less expensive up-front to extract the tooth and skip the root canal altogether, it is important to consider the long-term costs involved with losing a natural tooth. When you’re missing a permanent tooth, your bite can be negatively affected as your remaining teeth begin to shift out of place. This often causes difficulty eating as well as general discomfort.
To remedy this, Dr. Lineberry recommends replacing the tooth with a dental implant or bridge, both of which will incur their own separate costs. All in all, it may end up costing more to remove the tooth than it would to undergo a root canal.
No matter which option you choose, be sure to act quickly, as the longer you wait to take care of an infected tooth, the more likely you’ll need to have it extracted either way.
Does Dental Insurance Cover Root Canals?
Root canal treatment is considered a major procedure by many dental insurance providers, and thus, it is very common for dental insurance plans to cover anywhere from 50% to 80% of the cost after your deductible has been met. However, because each plan is different, it is still very important to confirm your coverage with your dental insurance provider first. Our team is happy to assist you with this if you’d like!
Other Options for Making Root Canal Treatment Affordable
Although we are not in-network with any dental insurance plans, we are happy to file claims with your provider on your behalf. We are also pleased to offer the following options to make your root canal treatment more affordable:
- CareCredit – This third-party financier can help break the cost of your care into multiple, low-to-no interest monthly payments.
Dr. Lineberry and our team are ready to help you with your root canal, including navigating the cost of your care. If you have any questions, concerns, or are ready to schedule your treatment, please call us today.
Root Canal Treatment FAQs
How much does root canal therapy cost?
Getting a root canal does not come with a fixed cost, as every patient is different. We can develop a personalized cost estimate during your consultation. The price will depend on factors like where the tooth that needs treatment is located in your mouth, what materials your crown will be made of, and your level of insurance coverage. Most dental insurance companies consider root canal therapy a major procedure, so they’ll often cover about 50% of the cost. We also offer low-interest, third-party financing through CareCredit to make things easier on your budget.
How long will my root canal take?
Generally speaking, the farther back a tooth is located in the mouth, the longer it will take to treat it. Molars have more root canals inside the tooth that need to be sterilized. In most cases, though, a root canal in Cocoa Beach can be completed in a single appointment that lasts between one and two hours.
Will root canal therapy make me sick?
There is a common misconception that getting a root canal increases your risk for cancer and other illnesses. However, this notion is based on poorly done research by a dentist in the 1920s. He believed that root canal therapy did not remove all of the infected tissue in the tooth and that the infection could spread throughout the body. His research has since been proven false, as no link has been found between root canal therapy and an increased risk for any other medical condition.
How can I prevent the need for a root canal in the future?
The most effective way of preventing infections that warrant root canal therapy is by maintaining good oral hygiene. Brush, floss, and rinse with mouthwash every single day. Visit our dental office for a checkup and cleanings twice a year at a minimum. Stick to a mouth-healthy diet that’s low in processed sugars and rich in fresh fruits and vegetables. All of these habits can greatly reduce your risk of tooth decay that could progress to the point where you need a root canal.