Are you experiencing intense pain in your mouth when you eat or drink? If so, there may be a chance you’re suffering from tooth decay. Tooth decay is caused by an infected tooth. If left untreated, this decay can penetrate deep into the tooth, allowing harmful bacteria to cause painful infections. If this happens, root canal treatment becomes necessary. But how does treatment work, and how much does a root canal cost?
Let’s take a look.
What is a root canal?
A root canal procedure is performed to save severely damaged or infected teeth. Normally, when cavities or tooth decay develop, the initial treatment involves getting a filling. But if you neglect to address the decay and don’t get a filling in time, it allows the bacteria to penetrate deeper into the tooth, reaching the tooth’s pulp.
Pulp is made up of vital vessels, tissue fibres and nerves that sustain a tooth’s health. If bacteria invades through the cavity holes and reaches the pulp, it causes an infection and slowly kills off the tooth. In order to keep it alive, a root canal must be performed.
In a root canal treatment, dentists remove decay and infection from the tooth, then fill it to preserve its function and structure. This helps the tooth recover and become healthy again. To save your tooth from being removed, catch cavities early and treat them with a filling or root canal treatment.
Signs you need a root canal
Daily dental care and regular dentist visits can help prevent tooth decay. However, if you suspect decay, here are some common signs that you might need root canal treatment:
- Sensitivity to hot or cold food and drinks
- Fever
- Headache
- Severe tooth pain when eating
- Reddened or swollen gums
What are the benefits of root canal treatment?
Although it may seem overwhelming, a root canal is essential for maintaining and protecting your oral health. If your dentist recommends it, getting the procedure done promptly can prevent further issues and more extensive treatment. Here are some key benefits of a root canal:
- Prevents tooth loss: By removing damaged or infected pulp, root canal treatment saves a dying tooth and takes away the need for extraction.
- Prevents infection of surrounding teeth: Treating pulp infection stops it from spreading to the bone around the tooth and potentially affecting neighbouring teeth.
- Prevents jawbone degeneration: Root canals help maintain jawbone strength by avoiding tooth removal so bone degeneration doesn’t occur.
Going through a root canal treatment will not only eliminate the pain but also help you avoid these potential issues.
Root canal treatment cost
A dentist will be able to provide you a comprehensive quote for the cost of a root canal depending on your unique situation. It’s good to note that the cost of root canal treatment depends on a variety of different factors, including:
- Materials used
- Type of restoration
- Location of the tooth
- Complexity of the procedure
- Dentist’s experience
- Severity of damage
If the affected tooth is in the back of your mouth, the root canal cost can be higher due to the greater number of roots. Your dentist may recommend getting a crown for additional protection to protect against chewing, which would further increase the cost depending on the patient’s level of decay. An approximate cost of a root canal on your tooth can cost between $1000 to $3000. However if you choose to pull out the tooth it is worth noting that the cost of replacing the missing tooth may be significantly more and the loss of the tooth may cause other issues, like bite changes.
Does private health insurance cover root canal costs?
Private health insurance can greatly reduce the cost of a root canal procedure in Melbourne. Your out-of-pocket expenses will depend on your insurance provider and policy details. Some Australian providers cover larger amounts of dental treatments while others just cover basic dental care. You will need to chat with your provider and ask your dentist for the item numbers to see what the price breakdown will be.
Helpful treatment for infected teeth at Oakleigh Dental
If you’re looking for a root canal specialist in Melbourne, we can help. At Oakleigh Dental, we are dedicated to ensuring our patients’ happiness and oral health. We provide a range of solutions to help manage tooth pain and have experienced dentists who can treat your root canal. If you’d like to learn more, book a consultation with us today.
