(210) 463-9339
11590 Galm Rd #109, San Antonio, TX 78254
Root Canals – Alamo Ranch, TX
Save Your
Natural Teeth
Contrary to popular belief, root canal therapy is not a painful procedure. In fact, this treatment is not only ideal for removing discomfort caused by decayed or infected teeth, but saving your natural teeth in the process. Dr. Moreno and Dr. Anderson are both trained to perform a wide array of oral surgical procedures, especially root canals. With their expertise, your next treatment is sure to be far more comfortable than what you were expecting. Don’t let your condition worsen, call our office to get your treatment scheduled!
Why Choose Alamo Springs Dental for Root Canal Therapy?
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Virtually Pain-Free
Procedure -
DentalVibe® Oral
Injection System -
All-Ceramic
Dental Crowns
What is a Root Canal?
Root canals are a relatively common procedure intended to save natural teeth damaged by decay or infection. When a tooth is severely decayed, bacteria is better able to access the inner area of tooth known as the pulp. The pulp is filled with vulnerable tissue and nerves, which is why you don’t really experience tooth pain until decay reaches this area. When bacteria reach the pulp, it’s extremely susceptible to developing an infection and causing severe problems later.
Prior to treatment, our dentists numb the tooth and surrounding gum tissue to make you as comfortable as possible. The pain that’s often associated with root canals is more likely caused by the present infection, not the root canal itself.
How Does a
Root Canal Work?
In order to access the inner tooth, we create a small hole in the top portion of the crown. Once created, we’ll begin removing infected gum tissue, decay and bacteria. Then, we’ll gently irrigate the canal to wash away any remaining pulp. In many cases, we’ll apply an antibacterial agent inside the canal to reduce the risk of future infections.
After shaping, cleaning and drying the canal, we’ll place a filling material that’s designed to replace the infected tissue. This material, known as gutta percha, also works to prevent future infection as your tooth heals. Finally, we’ll place a temporary crown on top of your tooth while a permanent crown is made. After about two weeks, you’ll come back to the office to have the permanent crown placed.
The Benefits of Root Canals
The most notable benefit of root canal therapy is the fact that you get to save your natural tooth. Dentists do everything they can to save teeth because no matter how closely a restoration gets to mimicking your tooth, nothing compares to having your natural tooth and root intact. Root canal therapy is meant to give teeth a second chance, so it’s actually a good thing to be told that you need one, rather than an extraction.
Furthermore, tooth extraction often takes more time and more appointments to complete. These treatments, along with the cost of creating and placing a complex restoration to replace the tooth, all lead to higher costs you won’t see with a root canal.
Understanding the Cost of Root Canals
When determining the cost of root canal therapy, our team at Alamo Springs Dental will need to consider various factors before determining a complete estimate. Your visit with our team to discuss your upcoming procedure will not only involve going over the details of treatment but also how much it will cost. Although you might feel a bit overwhelmed by the initial price tag, our team will work with you to determine how you will pay for treatment without having to empty your wallet.
Factors That Can Affect Root Canal Cost
No two patients are exactly alike, so the price you will pay for your root canal is likely to be very different from someone else. There are a few unique factors we must consider before establishing a set price, some of which include:
- The type of tooth that needs to be treated
- The location of the tooth
- The complexity of the procedure
- If you require a dental crown, and the material used
Is It Cheaper to Pull My Tooth?
Many patients assume that if we simply pull the problematic tooth it will not only be easier but cost much less. Unfortunately, this is not true. Not only is it better for you to keep your natural teeth as long as possible, but undergoing a tooth extraction and tooth replacement will only require you to pay more.
When removing any tooth other than your wisdom teeth, you must consider the price of having it replaced. Forgoing replacement will put your facial shape and oral health at risk. While there are currently three options for replacing a missing tooth: a dental bridge, partial denture, or dental implant, you will not only pay for the creation of this type of restoration, but you’ll also have the expense of maintaining it over time.
Does Dental Insurance Cover Root Canals?
You’ll be happy to learn that most dental insurance companies do offer partial coverage for root canals. Whether they agree to pay 50% or up to 80% is dependent upon your policy and the company you’re enrolled with. Our team will make sure to go over your plan, though, and determine how best to help you save so that any out-of-pocket expenses you incur are minimal.
Other Options for Making Root Canal Therapy Affordable
At Alamo Springs Dental, you do not need to worry if you are not enrolled in a private dental insurance plan. We have two alternative solutions that can make undergoing treatment easy and affordable:
- Flexible Financing : By enrolling in CareCredit, you can avoid paying the entire amount upfront and instead, spread out the cost of your treatment over several months. And the best part is that they offer low-to-no-interest financing and no surprise fees!
- In-House Loyalty Program : Another option is to enroll in our in-house loyalty program, which allows you to pay one low fee for access to preventive services and discounts on all other available treatments.
Root Canal FAQs
It is natural to have a lot of questions about a root canal in Alamo Ranch. There are many different components to this common procedure that will help you to feel more at ease if you seek clarification and understanding. Fortunately, at Alamo Springs Dental, our team of dental professionals is here to make your upcoming procedure as easy to understand and successful as possible. If you review the questions below and do not see yours listed, please contact our office to schedule an appointment for further discussion.
What should I do before a root canal?
It is advised that you eat a healthy meal before undergoing a root canal, as you’ll likely want to avoid any food once your procedure is finished. Also, you should not drink or smoke before your root canal surgery, as you can experience much difficulty when it comes to the effects of sedation and anesthesia.
Your dentists might also recommend taking an over-the-counter pain reliever prior to your surgery to help minimize the discomfort you might feel once your anesthesia wears off. All of this can lead to a positive pre-surgery experience, especially if you get ample rest the night before and continue to rest once you return home.
How long does a root canal take?
Depending on the severity of the problem, you may require 1-2 dental appointments. It is likely that you will only need one visit to our office, but it will be up to Dr. Anderson or Dr. Moreno to decide. For those that require two visits, you’ll receive an antibacterial medicine to help relieve discomfort before returning for your second appointment to have the tooth properly cleaned and filled, which can take 30 minutes to an hour and a half.
Can I take antibiotics instead of getting a root canal?
If this were the case, most individuals would opt for medicine over oral surgery; however, this is unfortunately not the case. While most bacterial infections can be treated with medicine, those causing a root canal cannot. Antibiotics enter the bloodstream and target various areas of the body. The one important thing to remember is that the bloodstream doesn’t reach the pulp of your tooth, causing it to be unaffected. The only way to address the underlying issue is to perform a root canal or extract the tooth.
Do root canals ever have to be redone?
It depends. Most are successful and never require additional work; however, there are instances that require another procedure to repair your smile.
- Saliva contaminates your tooth during your oral surgery
- Too much time has passed between your root canal and the customized restoration received
- Improper cleaning of all canals within the tooth’s cavity