Toothache or Tooth Pain. What are My Options?
What is a Root Canal?
When you have pain or abscess from your tooth, you generally have two alternatives. First, is an extraction or removal of your tooth. The second is a root canal treatment. This is an option in which the nerve is removed and treated to get you out of pain, rather than taking out the whole tooth. This is a superior option, both for cosmetics and function. Keeping your teeth, will help you look better and more youthful, while being able to chew and digest your food more efficiently. In addition, it will prevent adjacent and opposing teeth from shifting, thus preventing further deterioration of your bite.
Why do I need a Crown?
Following completion of the root canal, a dental crown is needed. Once a root canal is finished, the tooth becomes a non-vital or "nerveless tooth" and therefore does not cause pain any longer. However, a non-living tooth becomes very brittle and prone to breakage, and thus needs a dental crown. The crown structure wraps around the whole tooth to protect and keep the tooth from fracturing, much like a helmet protects the integrity of your head. This is the final step in restoring your tooth to normal form and function.
What is the cost of a Root Canal?
Pricing for root canal varies depending on which tooth needs the dental work. The "anterior" or front tooth costs the least, followed by the "premolar" or middle tooth. The back tooth or "molar" is the priciest. The reason for the price variation is due to the number of nerves inside the tooth, and thus the corresponding difficulty. An anterior tooth may have 1 or 2 nerves, while a molar may have up to 5 nerves. Additionally, there are other factors that determine root canal pricing. An endodontist or specialist will often charge more for similar services. There are price variations in different parts of the country, and even different areas of the same city. Finally, prices vary from one dentist to the next. In phoenix, prices for anterior teeth range from 500 to 900 dollars. Prices for molars are in the 1200 to 1800 dollar range. If you have dental insurance, most insurances cover root canals up to 80 percent.
What about dental crown prices?
There are many different types of crowns. They more or less break down into 3 subtypes. Metal or Gold, Porcelain fused to Metal, and All-Ceramic (white) crowns. All Ceramic or Gold crowns are the most expensive, and full Metal crowns cost the least. The pricing of crowns, however, is determined more by the region of the country and location in the city, and which dentist is doing your crown, rather than what type of crown you are getting. Dental crown cost can range from 800 to 2000 dollars in Phoenix, AZ. If you have dental insurance, typical coverage is 50 to 60 percent.
If you have further questions,
please feel free to come in for a free second opinion. We are all about honesty and integrity, not sales. We strive to give our patients quality services, and satisfaction, at reasonable prices. We are preferred providers for most PPO dental insurance plans.
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