If you’ve just visited your dentist due to tooth pain and they’ve informed you that you’re going to need a root canal, you might be feeling a little nervous—not necessarily about the procedure itself, but the hit that your wallet will take! However, you have nothing to worry about. Not only are root canals an incredibly viable and relatively pain-free option for salvaging a tooth; they’re also quite cost-effective. Keep reading to learn about some of the factors that influence the cost of root canal therapy and why you shouldn’t wait to go through with it.
Factors That Affect the Cost of Root Canal Therapy
Since every patient’s needs are different, the grand total of a root canal often varies. That said, there are a few different factors that affect the total cost of treatment:
- Location – Root canal therapy is often less expensive when performed on front teeth, compared to molars. This is because front teeth only have one root that needs to be disinfected and treated, whereas molars can have up to three.
- Severity – If the infection has advanced, you might require additional treatment like a bridge or crown, which will add more to the total bill. If the tooth requires extraction, that’ll be even more expensive once you calculate the cost of replacing it.
- Retreatment – If the affected tooth has already received root canal therapy in the past, you might end up paying even more for the procedure this time around, especially if you need something like a crown to replace a failed filling.
How a Root Canal Now Can Save You Money in the Future
Sadly, many patients these days put off receiving the dental care they need because they don’t want to end up paying a hefty bill after treatment. But one of the worst things you can do if you need a root canal is prolong treatment, as it increases the likelihood of additional problems developing that’ll end up costing even more money to address later on.
Something like tooth extraction might seem like a cheaper and better alternative to root canal therapy, but consider the risks associated with missing teeth. Things like difficulty eating and speaking, a gap-filled smile, jawbone deterioration, and the likelihood to lose more teeth are simply not worth it! Not to mention, the cost of replacing missing teeth is greater than the cost of a root canal in virtually all instances.
Root canal therapy isn’t just a viable treatment option; it’s a cost-effective one, too. Knowing what influences its cost and how it can also prevent expensive future issues should be enough to warrant undergoing the procedure if it’s been deemed necessary by your dentist.
About the Practice
The team at Lyndon Family Dental proudly serves the dental needs of the Fayetteville, NY area under the leadership of Dr. Marley Rinoldo and Dr. Simone Reid. Their practice is thrilled to offer a wide range of dental services including root canal therapy. If you or a loved one is dealing with severe tooth pain, don’t hesitate to seek treatment; contact the practice online or over the phone to get the help you need: (315) 449-0711.