Feeling discomfort in your tooth and gums can indicate several different types of infections and diseases. If you feel intense pain or pressure in your tooth, there’s a chance that you may need a root canal.
You’ve probably heard the term root canal many times before and may have even known people who have had to undergo one. But do you know what the procedure entails? How much does a root canal cost?
Keep reading to find out the answer to “how much is a root canal in Ontario,” and learn everything you need to know about this common procedure.
What Is a Root Canal?
Before diving into how much a root canal treatment costs, it’s important to first have a thorough understanding of what a root canal is.
A root canal removes the infected pulp from the affected tooth to eliminate bacteria. The goal of a root canal is to save the tooth and prevent any further infection. From there, the inside of the tooth is cleaned, disinfected, filled, and sealed.
Root canals often get a bad rap. For many, when they hear the term “root canal,” they may feel a sense of fear. The name and the procedure itself do sound intimidating, and it is a serious procedure, but it is also a very common procedure that a dental specialist does regularly – possibly every day.
What’s more, the pain you feel before a root canal treatment – the pain that causes the need for the procedure in the first place – is more intense than the pain you feel during and after the treatment.
Let’s discuss what the process of a root canal procedure is like.
What Is a Root Canal Like?
The process of getting a root canal is similar to that of getting a filling for a cavity. However, the procedure generally takes longer. However, the treatment will feel the same as getting a filling.
First, a rubber dam will be placed around your infected tooth to avoid spreading the infected material to other areas of your mouth. Local anesthesia numbs your tooth and surrounding gums, so you’ll be numb in the area where the dentist is working.
While your mouth is numb, your dentist will clean out the tooth decay and disinfect the roots. Once they’re done doing that, they’ll fill the tooth in.
After the procedure, you can expect a little soreness in your mouth for the first couple of days that you can treat with over-the-counter pain medication. The good news is that, in general, root canal pain after the treatment should be much less than the pain that caused you to get the treatment in the first place.
How Much Is a Root Canal in Ontario?
It isn’t easy to determine root canal treatment cost because several factors influence the cost of the procedure.
Some of the main factors that may affect the root canal cost are:
- Which teeth need to be done. Front teeth have only one root, which would cost less. In contrast, molars have three nerves and cost more to perform a root canal.
- How severely decayed your tooth is. It’s possible that once your dentist starts work on your root canal, they determine that your damaged tooth must be extracted.
- Whether you need a dental crown or filling. Crowns are more expensive than fillings.
- The dentist. Different dentists charge different prices for their services.
However, no matter what you factor into your dental treatment, root canals are generally pricey dental procedures. As a rough estimate, a root canal can cost in Ontario anywhere from $300 to thousands of dollars.
Luckily, many dental insurance companies in Ontario offer comprehensive dental coverage, so you may be able to get the cost of your root canal partially or fully covered by your dental insurance.
There’s one way to save money on a root canal: prevent yourself from getting one.
Preventing a Root Canal
Now that we’ve covered the answer to “how much is a root canal in Ontario,” let’s talk about how to avoid ever needing one in the first place.
If you’re currently in need of root canal therapy, there’s nothing you can do to change that. However, you can take it as a lesson for next time.
If you don’t want to spend the money on a root canal, the best way to avoid having to is to prevent needing to get a root canal in the first place.
Even if you do need a root canal treatment, the cost might be reduced if your tooth infection isn’t too severe. Keeping good dental hygiene habits and getting regular teeth cleaning at your dental office are the simplest ways to ensure the health of your teeth and prevent the need for expensive procedures and endodontic treatment.
Here are some of the best ways to prevent a root canal:
- Make sure to brush your teeth twice a day
- Floss at least once a day
- Go for regular dental visits and cleanings
- Limit the amount of food you eat that sticks to your teeth, such as sugary treats
Keep up with these dental care habits, and you may never need a root canal in your life.
Conclusion: Are Root Canal Costs Worth It?
If you experience a lot of tooth pain and pressure in your mouth and your dentist suggests you need a root canal, you should get one. Root canal costs are worth it to save you from tooth pain, discomfort, and further infection.
Although the idea of root canal surgery may be intimidating, dental specialists perform this dental procedure every day, so you’re in good hands.
