Preventative Care

Explore our ‘Preventative Care’ category for expert insights and tips, creating a path to a radiant and lasting smile.

October 27, 2022

Can Bleeding Gums Cause a Heart Attack?

Crystal River DentalOral Health, Tooth Pain Gum disease

What is the Oral-Systemic Link? Oral System Link by Waupaca Dentist

You’ve always heard that it’s important to take care of your teeth. Brush and floss every day, and see the dentist for good oral health. But did you know that your oral health could directly affect your overall health? And the road goes both ways—problems with your overall health show signs in your mouth, too.

Did you know that gum disease increases your risk of heart attack by 50%? Did you know that plaque buildup in your mouth can be an indicator of and contribute to plaque buildup in your arteries? These mouth-body connections are called the “oral-systemic link.” Dr. Lisa Piontek, your Crystal River Dental dentist, explain the important ways your body systems work together for better or worse.

September 27, 2022

Restoring Your Smile to Health

Crystal River DentalOral Health, Restorative & Cosmetic Dentistry Restorative dentistry

Full-Mouth Rehabilitation with Waupaca Dentist

There comes a time for many people when traditional tooth restoration methods are no longer viable. The impairment of the natural teeth has crossed a threshold where fillings are impossible or imprudent. In these cases, many people choose dentures, usually due to their comparatively low cost. For others, a welcome alternative to dentures is full-mouth rehabilitation (sometimes called for full-mouth reconstruction), which in the broadest sense is using multiple advanced restorative techniques to rebuild your natural, healthy smile. Crystal River Dental is proud to offer this service to Waupaca and our Waupaca-area communities.

Who Are Candidates for Full-Mouth Rehabilitation?

Our office stands by its commitment to never try to “upsell” or strong-arm patients into treatments. We never want anyone to feel that they’re being railroaded when it comes to any procedure, especially one that involves a significant investment of time and money. That’s part of the reason why we created this blog article: We want our patients to be informed of every option and to have a clear understanding of the treatments we might recommend for them. Transparency and clear communication are central to how we do dentistry, and candidates for full-mouth rehabilitation can rest assured that from your first consultation to the very last appointment, you will know what’s going on with your treatment plan in terms of services provided and the costs they entail. In the end, whether our patients choose dentures or full-mouth rehabilitation (or some other treatment option), we will always provide them with the same personalized care and everything they need to make the best decision for themselves.

That said, there are several reasons why people seek out full-mouth rehabilitation. Here are the most common:

Decay of teeth – Many candidates for full-mouth rehabilitation have experienced extensive tooth decay, sometimes through poor dental hygiene habits and diet, but sometimes as a result of things like medications or genetic/hereditary factors.

Wearing down of teeth – Many of our full-mouth candidates have suffered from an erosion of their tooth enamel because of persistent grinding, acid reflux, or simply years of use.

Damage or trauma to the teeth – Accidents, sports injuries, or other impacts to the teeth will often bring about the need for an overhaul of the bite and smile.

Persistent problems with the jaw and/or tooth alignment – Often full-mouth rehabilitation is sought out when there’s a misalignment of the jaw and/or teeth, which can lead to tooth damage, ongoing headaches, and muscle pain.

While there are other reasons for seeking out full-mouth rehabilitation, candidates most commonly have one of these four issues.

What’s the Process for Full-Mouth Rehabilitation?

No two patients will ever have exactly the same experience with full-mouth rehabilitation. At our office, a central guiding principle is providing personalized care, whatever the service being provided. We want to know you and your thoughts well before we begin on any treatment plan. But every patient who decides to embark on full-mouth rehabilitation can expect similar things from the overall experience.

Consultation with the dentist – You’ll start off by being scheduled for an appointment to meet with the providing doctor to discuss your situation, conduct a thorough examination of your teeth and oral health, answer any questions you might have, and begin the steps for a treatment plan going forward. There are situations where you might meet with the dentist only to discuss the full-mouth treatment and then return for the thorough examination at a second appointment.
X-rays and impressions of your teeth – To carry out any full-mouth rehabilitation treatment plan, you will need to have current X-rays, along with a 3D scan and/or impressions taken of your bite.
Initial photographs – We’ll also take photos of your teeth at this time — not only do we love to be able to show you the wonderful before-and-after imagery at the end of the treatment, the photos will help guide things like alignment of the teeth and coloring of any crowns.
Finalized treatment plan – Once our dentist has all the information needed on the condition of your teeth, the health of your gums and bone structure, the alignment of your jaw, and the appearance of your smile from an aesthetic standpoint, a step-by-step treatment plan will be created to guide the rest of the process. As alluded to above, no two treatment plans will ever be the same, and they will factor in your specific needs and desires for the final outcome. Costs and time commitments will be made clear, and any further questions will be answered.
Rehabilitative procedures – These procedures will obviously vary from patient to patient, depending on their specific needs. Some patients undergoing full-mouth rehabilitation might only need two or three from the following list, where others will require many or all of the services. All of these procedures will have been discussed with the patient ahead of time and integrated into the unique treatment plan.
- Teeth cleaning/periodontal care – The first procedure most full-mouth patients will undergo ensures that natural teeth and gums are as healthy as possible before moving forward.
- Crown lengthening – In order for crowns (or possibly bridges) to be placed on those teeth that need them, healthy tooth structure may have to be exposed.
- Gum contouring – In addition to crown lengthening, patients’ gums may need to be shaped to present their most symmetrical and healthiest looking smile.
- Orthodontics – Our dentist may recommend Invisalign® or other orthodontic treatments to help address bite issues and move the patient’s teeth into the optimal position for restoration.
- Bone grafting – If patients opt for dental implants to replace damaged or missing teeth, bone grafts are sometimes required to provide enough stability and structure for the implant to be anchored properly.
- Dental implant placement – Using 3D imagery of the patient’s mouth and jaw, our dentist will create a guide and anchor into the bone a titanium implant that will later receive a ceramic crown or potentially anchor a bridge restoration.
- Crown preparation – In order for any crowns to be placed on a patient’s natural teeth, existing tooth structure will have to be reduced and shaped to receive the crowns.
- Temporary crown placement – Once the natural teeth needing crowns have been prepared, temporary crowns will be placed to ensure proper fit and bite alignment. These temporary restorations will give the patient time to grow accustomed to their new teeth and will be worn until our lab finishes crafting the permanent ceramic crowns.
- Placement of permanent crowns or other restorations – Once we have back from the lab the patient’s final crowns (or potentially their bridges, veneers, inlays, or overlays), the dentist will remove any temporaries and permanently cement the final restorations to the existing teeth.
Final photographs – Once patients have completed the entire full-mouth treatment plan, we take photos of the final result. We use these for our own documentation and education purposes, and we may also — with patients’ permission — share them publicly on our website. The before-and-after imagery (like the photos included in this blog) are an excellent way to educate and help prospective full-mouth patients make decisions about moving forward with the treatment.

How Long Does Full-Mouth Rehabilitation Take?

The duration of the entire process of full-mouth rehabilitation will vary a great deal from person to person based on dental needs, desired outcomes, and other factors like age and budget. There are some patients who complete the entire rehabilitation within two months. Other patients may choose to address different needs over the course of a year or more. Some of the procedures in the process require built-in waiting time. For example, if a bone graft is needed, the healing time can be up to four months before an implant can safely be placed. If orthodontic treatment is needed to move the teeth into proper position, the waiting time could be six months to a year. Whatever your particular dental needs, you can rest assured that you will know how long the process will take when you go over your individualized treatment plan with the dentist.

How Much Does Full-Mouth Rehabilitation Cost?

This question is at the front of most patients’ minds when they schedule their initial consultation. And, as you can guess from what you’ve already read, the answer is dependent upon each individual’s dental needs and desired outcomes. Cost is also determined by what types of treatment are chosen: A patient who chooses dental bridges to replace missing or damaged teeth will pay less than a patient who chooses dental implants for the same replacement. A patient may choose veneers or inlays/overlays over crowns. One thing is certain and consistent: At Crystal River Dental, you will never be surprised by costs. We will talk you through every step of the process in your treatment plan, alerting you to the various prices of different procedures, explaining how much of the treatment may be picked up by insurance, and helping you to make the best decision for your individual circumstances. Because of the variety factors and potential services involved, it’s difficult to give an average cost for full-mouth rehabilitation. On the lowest end, a patient is looking at a cost of about $15,000. For more extensive work, the cost can run in the $30,000 to $45,000 range. That is, without question, a great deal of money to spend on one’s teeth; but for those who have chosen to go through the process, having their natural smile restored to health is well worth the investment.

Where Can I Learn More About Full-Mouth Rehabilitation?

The best resource we can provide is our team, which has a great deal of experience working with patients on their full-mouth treatment plans. For more information on how the process works or questions related to your specific situation, please give our office a call at (715) 258-8200. We look forward to speaking with you and helping you on your way to a fully restored smile! Below are a few more before-and-after photos of full-mouth rehabilitation patients, along with additional web resources on this subject.

Resources

https://www.aegisdentalnetwork.com/cced/2014/05/full-mouth-rehabilitation-a-staged-approach-to-treating-the-worn-dentition

https://artofdentistryinstitute.com/blog/benefits-full-mouth-rehabilitation/

https://www.bostonprosthodontics.com/full-mouth-reconstruction

https://cardinaldentalgroup.com/five-signs-you-need-full-mouth-rehabilitation.html

https://www.gotoapro.org/full-mouth-reconstruction/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2994694/

https://www.yourdentistryguide.com/fmr/

August 27, 2022

Avoid a Dental Nightmare This Halloween

Crystal River DentalOral Health

Halloween Dental Tips Waupaca Dentist

The Halloween season provides more opportunities for candy consumption than any other. As dental professionals, we consider ourselves candy experts (both because we know the effects it has on oral health but also because we’re secretly some of the biggest sweet tooths around). While we can’t in good conscience tell you to never eat candy (especially around Halloween), we would like to share some important information that will help you to keep your teeth in the best health possible while enjoying some of the season’s delicious treats. The best way to keep your mouth healthy and still get your candy fix is to eat the right kind of candy in moderation and maintain a great oral hygiene routine. Here’s how.

Not All Candies Are Created Equal

Every different brand of sweet deliciousness has plenty of faithful followers. Whether it be Snickers™, M&M’s™, Skittles™, Starburst™, Laffy Taffy™, or any of the others, we all have a special candy that’s too good to share. Unfortunately, the candies that make your teeth happy might not be the same ones your stomach craves. Ultimately, soft and/or sugar free candy does the least harm to your teeth.

Why Candy Can Be Harmful to Your Teeth

You’ve probably heard all your life that candy is bad for your teeth, but have you ever wondered what it is that makes it so bad? Our dental professionals break it down for you:

Sugar. Sugar. Sugar. Bacteria are the root cause of nearly every dental problem, and they thrive on the abundance of sugar that candy provides. All food causes some buildup on your teeth. After eating and drinking, little bits of food are left behind in your mouth. Out of all the food we eat, sugar does the worst damage to your teeth. Even healthy foods like milk, bread, and produce contain some natural sugar, but these foods also contain necessary vitamins and nutrients. Eaten in healthy amounts, your body has no problem breaking down the natural sugars with the other food bits on your teeth. The problems begin when you eat food that has more sugar than nutritional value. Without proper nutrition, your body may be unable to fight the bacteria and decay excessive sugar consumption causes in your mouth. The American Heart Association recommends you have no more than 9.5 teaspoons of sugar per day. However, in the U.S. the average adult consumes 22 teaspoons, and the average child consumes 32 teaspoons…every single day! You can imagine how much higher those numbers are when a stockpile of Halloween candy is around.
Consistency. Candy comes in all shapes and sizes, but because of the common ingredients, candy sticks to your teeth, allowing more plaque to form in more vulnerable areas. Plaque begins to form within 20 minutes of eating. It is this plaque that damages your tooth enamel: bacteria in your mouth changes the food you eat into acid, eating away at the tooth and forming a cavity. Sticky candies provide the ideal opportunities for these harmful bacteria to thrive, and they make it harder to you to remove them through regular hygiene methods like rinsing and brushing.
Addictiveness. Candy is designed to override our better judgment and be so irresistible that we eat way too much of it. And it works! Our brains are predisposed to give positive feedback to sugar intake, which can make many sweets as addictive as any other chemical. There have been a number of published studies in recent years that address the addictiveness of sugar. These studies have purported that sugar is just as addictive as drugs like cocaine and heroin. The authors of these studies cite experiments showing that lab rats are just as – and sometimes more – prone to choose sugary treats like Oreos over injections of drugs like morphine when given the choice. This is a direct result of the connection between sugar and dopamine, the pleasure and reward chemical produced by our brains. Might not be a pleasant thought, but good to keep in mind when you’re reaching for that fifth candy bar from your kid’s trick-or-treat bag!

The American Dental Association gives us a good summary of the harm that candy poses: When bacteria are left unchecked, they form the sticky, filmy substance we know as plaque. As the plaque sits on your teeth it produces a harmful acid that eats away at them, destroying tooth mineral. Once enough damage has been done, the structural integrity of the tooth is compromised and a cavity forms. Eating too much candy speeds this process up and paves the way for more damage.

How Can I Enjoy Candy and Still Maintain Good Oral Health?

Candy that is easily chewed and swallowed is best for your teeth. Hard, sticky candies stay on the teeth longer, do more harm, and can disrupt your dental work. It’s not uncommon at all for us to hear from patients who have lost a crown to a sticky treat. This Halloween, your best bet is to pick soft candies or chocolates that can be easily washed away with water (and on that note, don’t compound the problem by drinking sugary soft drinks). And above all, make sure to keep up at least twice-daily brushing and daily flossing throughout this candy-centric season. As mentioned, plaque begins to form in about 20 minutes after eating sugary food, so your best bet is the brush and floss your teeth within that window of time. At the very least, try to rinse your mouth with water or mouthwash shortly after eating candy.

If you have any questions related to diet and oral health, please give us a call today or ask us at your next visit. And have a very safe and happy Halloween!

References

https://newsroom.heart.org/news/preliminary-report-on-dietary-guidelines-emphasizes-need-for-healthy-eating-habits-including-reduced-added-sugar-consumption
https://www.mouthhealthy.org/en/az-topics/h/halloween-tips
https://www.mouthhealthy.org/en/az-topics/h/halloween-candy-survival-guide
https://wellnessretreatrecovery.com/sugar-and-dopamine-link-sweets-addiction/

July 27, 2022

Oral Health & Alzheimer’s – Don’t Forget to Floss!

Crystal River DentalOral Health Oral Hygiene

Dental and Alzheimer’s Waupaca Dentist

Did you know that unhealthy gums might put your brain at risk?

Alzheimer’s is a form of dementia that harms your memory and ability to think and can cause changes in your personality. It’s very common and usually affects people aged 60 and over. And, Alzheimer’s might be significantly more likely to happen if your mouth and gums aren’t healthy.

March 27, 2022

Top 5 Causes of Tooth Sensitivity

Crystal River DentalTooth Pain Sensitive Teeth, Toothache

Tooth Sensitivity Waupaca Dentist

If you’re one of the 40 million Americans with sensitive teeth, you must be familiar with the painful zing that follows a hot drink, a bite of ice cream, or just a deep breath of cold air. These and other elements can cause sudden discomfort if you have sensitive teeth, also called dentin hypersensitivity.

Each of your teeth has an important protected layer called enamel. If your enamel gets worn down, your teeth can become more sensitive over time. Your enamel is the visible, white part of the tooth and it protects the softer, inner layers of each tooth. Receding gums can also reveal sensitive parts of the tooth that aren’t protected by enamel.

December 27, 2021

Peak Oral Health Levels: Healthy & Unhealthy Foods to Eat

Crystal River DentalOral Health Oral Hygiene

Oral health Waupaca Dentist

Maintaining optimal oral health is essential not only for a beautiful smile but also for your overall well-being. The foods you consume play a significant role in the health of your teeth and gums. In this blog post, we will explore the impact of your diet on your oral health by categorizing foods into healthy and unhealthy choices, helping you make informed dietary decisions for a radiant smile.

Healthy Foods for Optimal Oral Health

Fruits and Vegetables: Fresh fruits and vegetables are packed with essential vitamins and minerals that promote oral health. They help maintain strong teeth and gums, stimulate saliva production, and naturally clean your mouth. Examples include apples, carrots, and celery.
Dairy Products: Dairy products like milk, cheese, and yogurt are rich in calcium and phosphorus, which are vital for strong teeth. They also help balance the pH in your mouth and reduce the risk of cavities.
Lean Proteins: Lean protein sources such as poultry, fish, and eggs contain essential nutrients like phosphorus, which aids in the formation of strong teeth and tissues.
Whole Grains: Foods like whole wheat, brown rice, and oats are rich in complex carbohydrates and fiber, which help maintain healthy gums and promote overall oral health.
Nuts and Seeds: Almonds, peanuts, and seeds are good sources of vitamins and minerals, including calcium and magnesium, which are essential for healthy teeth.
Water: Staying hydrated is vital for saliva production, which helps cleanse your mouth and neutralize acids. Water is the best choice for quenching your thirst.

Unhealthy Foods to Limit

Snacks and Beverages: Sugary foods and drinks, such as candies, sodas, and cookies, feed harmful bacteria in your mouth, leading to plaque buildup and an increased risk of cavities.
Sticky and Chewy Foods: Foods like caramels, taffy, and dried fruit can get stuck between your teeth, making it difficult to remove and increasing the risk of tooth decay.
Acidic Foods: Highly acidic foods and beverages, including citrus fruits and soft drinks, can erode tooth enamel over time, leading to sensitivity and an increased risk of cavities.
Processed and Refined Carbohydrates: Foods made from refined grains, like white bread and crackers, can convert to sugars in your mouth, promoting bacterial growth and tooth decay.
Alcohol and Tobacco: Both alcohol and tobacco products can harm your oral health. Alcohol can dry out your mouth, leading to a higher risk of cavities, while tobacco products can cause gum disease, tooth discoloration, and even oral cancer.

Balancing Your Diet for Oral Health

While it’s essential to limit unhealthy foods, you don’t have to eliminate them completely. It’s about moderation and balance. Here are some tips for maintaining a diet that supports optimal oral health:

– Practice Good Oral Hygiene: Brush your teeth twice a day, floss daily, and use mouthwash to help combat the effects of unhealthy foods.

– Choose Healthier Snacks: Opt for fresh fruits, vegetables, and dairy products for your snacks. These options are not only healthier but also better for your oral health.

– Drink Water: Water helps rinse away food particles and keeps your mouth hydrated. Drink water after consuming sugary or acidic foods.

– Regular Dental Checkups: Schedule regular dental checkups to monitor your oral health and address any issues early.

Conclusion

Achieving peak oral health is within your reach, thanks to the choices you make in your diet. By incorporating healthy foods and limiting or balancing unhealthy ones, you can maintain strong teeth, healthy gums, and a radiant smile for years to come. Remember, a balanced diet and good oral hygiene go hand in hand in your journey to optimal oral health.

November 27, 2021

Dental Crowns 101

Crystal River DentalPreventative Care, Oral Health Crown

Dental Crown Dentist Waupaca

Sometimes in life you just need a do-over. That’s precisely what a crown is—a new start for your tooth.

Teeth are important players in your life—they do everything from begin your digestion to make a great first impression—and you deserve a beautiful, fully functioning set. If your teeth need a boost in any way, or a real makeover, a crown might be just what you need.

A crown is a custom-made shell that fits perfectly over your natural tooth. Crowns look and act exactly like your original tooth, only better. Crowns support broken or badly decayed teeth and they cover and restore discolored teeth. Crowns are also used over dental implants and to build a dental bridge.

Dr. Lisa Piontek, our dentist at Crystal River Dental in Waupaca, shares what you need to know about getting a crown.

If You Need A Crown

Getting a crown usually takes two trips to the dentist. On the first trip, the dentist makes a plan to suit your specific needs and prepares the tooth. You will also get impressions of the tooth so that a crown can be made to fit perfectly over the natural tooth. On the second trip, your crown is installed and cemented on. A crown is a permanent or “fixed” dental piece. This makes it very stable and durable.

In some cases, a crown can be designed, fabricated and placed in a single appointment with the help of advanced same day technology.

Crowns can be made of a variety of materials and each has their own benefit. Talk with your dentist when choosing between crowns made of porcelain, resin, or metal.

Benefits of Dental Crowns

October 27, 2021

Teenage Teeth Difficulties: Navigating the Challenges of Adolescent Oral Health

Crystal River DentalOral Health, Orthodontics Oral Hygiene

Teenage teeth Waupaca Dentist

The teenage years are a time of significant change and development, and this applies not only to a person’s physical and emotional growth but also to their oral health. Adolescence brings a unique set of challenges to maintaining a healthy smile. In this blog post, we’ll explore the various teenage tooth difficulties and offer tips on how to navigate them to ensure a lifetime of good oral health.

Orthodontic Issues

Orthodontic concerns are prevalent during the teenage years. Many teenagers require braces to correct misaligned teeth or bite problems. The good news is that orthodontic treatments like braces and Invisalign have come a long way in terms of aesthetics and comfort. Encourage your teenager to embrace their orthodontic journey as a means to achieve a straight and confident smile.

Wisdom Teeth

Wisdom teeth typically make their appearance during the late teenage years or early twenties. For some teenagers, these third molars can cause discomfort, pain, or even become impacted, requiring surgical removal. Regular dental check-ups can help monitor the development of wisdom teeth and address any issues as they arise.

Diet and Nutrition

Teenager are notorious for their love of sugary and acidic foods and drinks, which can take a toll on their dental health. High sugar intake increases the risk of cavities and gum disease. Encourage a balanced diet with plenty of fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and dairy products while limiting the consumption of sugary and acidic items.

Oral Hygiene

The teenage years are a critical time for developing good oral hygiene habits. Adolescents should be brushing their teeth at least twice a day, flossing daily, and using mouthwash to keep their mouths healthy. Peer pressure, busy schedules, and newfound independence can make it challenging to stick to these routines, so consistent reminders are key.

Sports Injuries

Teenagers are often active in sports, but many do not wear mouthguards to protect their teeth during physical activities. Encourage your teen to use a mouthguard to prevent dental injuries, such as chipped or knocked-out teeth.

Tobacco and Alcohol

Teenagers may experiment with tobacco and alcohol, which can have severe consequences for oral health. Smoking and chewing tobacco can lead to gum disease and oral cancer, while alcohol can lead to dry mouth, which increases the risk of cavities.

Hormonal Changes

Hormonal changes during adolescence can affect gum health. Increased hormones can make gums more sensitive and prone to gingivitis. Adolescents should be encouraged to maintain regular dental check-ups and maintain good oral hygiene practices to combat these hormonal fluctuations.

Peer Pressure

Peer pressure can sometimes lead teenagers to make poor choices, including neglecting oral health. Parents and guardians play a crucial role in educating their teens about the importance of maintaining good oral hygiene practices and making wise dental decisions.

Conclusion

The teenage years come with a unique set of oral health challenges, from orthodontic concerns to dietary choices and hormonal fluctuations. To navigate these challenges successfully, teenagers should be educated about the importance of oral hygiene, encouraged to make healthy dietary choices, and provided with the necessary tools and knowledge to maintain a lifetime of good oral health. By addressing teenage tooth difficulties head-on, we can help our adolescents maintain confident smiles and overall well-being.

September 27, 2021

Gum Disease – More Than Just Gums

Crystal River DentalTooth Pain Gum disease, Toothache

Gum Disease Dentist Waupaca

Did you know, when a dentist looks at your mouth, they can tell a lot more than just how often you’re brushing? It’s true; your oral health is like a window into your lifestyle and habits. Dr. Lisa Piontek at Crystal River Dental in Waupaca should know. She’s seen mouths from all over the Waupaca area in our office!

If you’re not taking care of the rest of your body, your gums will give it away. Hormones, sickness, stress, diet, smoking, prescription medicine, and more can all affect your gum health.

And that goes both ways. If you don’t take care of your gums, the consequences will stretch beyond just your mouth. Unhealthy gums can lead to an unhealthy heart, diabetes, pregnancy complications, memory problems, tooth decay, and more.

August 27, 2021

Rootless Fears: Root Canal Therapy Gets a Bad Rap

Crystal River DentalOral Health, Tooth Pain Endodontics, Root canal

Root Canal Therapy Waupaca Dentist

“Worse Than a Root Canal”

If you’ve lived long enough, you’ve likely heard someone compare the pain they’ve felt to the pain of a root canal. Before many people are likely old enough to even need a root canal, they’ve already formed an opinion about this treatment as something excruciating and to be avoided at all costs. While we do recommend avoiding the need for root canal therapy altogether, we can attest that this treatment in no way deserves its bad reputation, and we’d like to take a moment on this National Root Canal Appreciation Day to dispel those misconceptions.

Just What Is a Root Canal?

What most people refer to as a root canal is an endodontic treatment in which the infected pulp and nerve in the root of a tooth are removed, the root canal is cleaned out, the space is filled, and the tooth is sealed and crowned to restore the tooth to healthy function. Because this treatment preserves your natural tooth structure and bite, it’s much preferred to extraction whenever possible. Despite the bad publicity around the treatment, it functions to immediately alleviate tooth pain caused by rampant infection and often abscess at the tooth’s root. This helpful graphic shows the series of steps the dentist or an endodontist will take in preserving a tooth using root canal therapy.

What Causes a Patient to Need Root Canal Therapy?

There are numerous factors that can play into the kind of deep infection of a tooth that requires endodontic treatment. Oftentimes it is highly preventable tooth decay that makes its way to the pulp and roots of a tooth. In other cases, a patient has had multiple procedures done on a tooth that over time have led to the susceptibility of that tooth’s core to infection. Sometimes a chip, crack, or other injury to a tooth can lead to deep infection. There are even cases when a tooth has no visible signs of damage or decay, but a trauma has lead to pulp damage that necessitates root canal therapy.

What Are the Signs I Need Root Canal Therapy?

With regular dental visits, your hygienists and dentist will often be able to head off instances of deep infection and hopefully address the issue before root canal therapy is needed. But there are times when an infection flares up quite suddenly, and it’s good to know the warning signs so you can alert our office right away. Here are some of the most common conditions associated with infection of a tooth’s pulp and roots:

Cracked or chipped tooth
Sharp, severe pain when chewing or biting down
Tender and/or swollen gums
Abnormal bulging or formation of pimples on the gums
Darkening or decay of the gums
Keen tooth sensitivity to hot or cold

While none of these conditions is a certain indication that root canal therapy is needed, you should always alert us to them right away: Acting quickly can help to avoid further damage, infection, and the need for more extensive (and expensive) endodontic treatment.

Seriously, Will It Hurt?

If you had root canal treatment before modern techniques and anesthetics, it might’ve lived up to its reputation as a painful procedure. Today, however, most patients who undergo the treatment describe it as being relatively painless. We take great care to ensure our patients are fully numb and remain fully numb when a root canal (or any procedure) is performed. Progressing deliberately and skillfully and seeking constant feedback, your provider will keep you as free from pain as any other dental treatment. Many patients claim that root canal therapy was much more comfortable for them than fillings.

How Much Does Root Canal Therapy Cost?

The cost of root canal treatment will vary a good deal depending on the level of infection, the complexity of the case, and the tooth in need of repair. For example, molars are generally more difficult to treat, and the cost therefore tends to more. Broadly speaking, root canal is a much more cost-effective treatment than tooth extraction and replacement, since a bridge or implant will be called for to replace an infected tooth that’s extracted. Everyone’s situation is different, but our office will always be completely transparent and up-front when it comes to costs. For a little perspective, though: As of 2021, the average cost for root canal therapy for a front tooth was around $900, the average cost for a bicuspid was around $1,000, and the average cost for a molar was about $1,600.