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- Why is root canal therapy necessary?
- Does root canal therapy hurt?
- What causes nerve damage?
- What are the risks and complications?
- Why will I feel discomfort after root canal therapy if the nerve is gone?
- How many appointments can I expect to have?
- Can I return to work after my treatment is completed?
- How long does treatment take?
- Does Dr. Davis place my crown?
- How long can I wait to have my tooth restored?
- Why will I need to return in six months?
- Why do I need to see an Endodontist? Can't my general dentist do a root canal?
- What will root canal therapy cost?
- What options do I have to make my co-payment?
- Do you take my insurance?
- What is Nitrous Oxide? How much does it cost? Should I choose it?
1. Why is root canal therapy necessary?
Without treatment, infection of the dental pulp can spread into the bone and surrounding tissues making the tooth unstable; therefore, making an extraction your only option.
2. Does a root canal hurt?
You are under local anesthesia, so you should not feel any pain. However, there are instances when the infection from the tooth can be so overwhelming that the local anesthetic doesn't work as well, which may necessitate additional injections.
3. What causes nerve damage?
a. It is caused by tooth decay reaching down into the nerve tissue through deep fillings. Harmful bacteria reaches the nerve tissue resulting in decay and infection.
b . Trauma or a blow to the tooth can cause damage to the
nerve tissue within the tooth.
4. What are the risks and complications?
Root canal treatment is about 95% successful. However, sometimes a case may need to be redone. Occasionally, root canal therapy will fail marked by the return of pain.
5. Why will I feel discomfort after root canal therapy if the nerve is gone?
Even though the nerves have been removed from inside of the tooth, the surrounding tissues and bone have now undergone inflammation. Natural tissue inflammation may cause discomfort for a few days. This can easily be controlled by an analgesic. Brushing and flossing regularly and avoiding chewing hard food on the treated tooth are important to remember.
6. How many appointments can I expect to have?
Treatment involves anywhere from one to three appointments; however, in most routine cases, only one appointment is necessary.
7. Can I return to work after my root canal treatment?
Yes, most people do.
8. How long does treatment take?
Depending upon the difficulty of the tooth, you can expect anywhere from 1- 1 1/2 hours.
9. Does Dr. Davis place my crown?
No. You will need to return to your general dentist.
10. How long can I wait to have my tooth restored?
The sooner the better. A temporary filling is placed after completion of root canal therapy. The tooth is weak after root canal therapy, since the inside core is removed and is then more susceptible to fracture.
11. Why will I need to return in six months?
To check the healing of the tooth and to make sure the appropriate restoration has been placed on the tooth. There is no charge for this appointment.
12. Why do I need to see an Endodontist? Can't my general dentist perform a root canal?
Your general dentist has referred you to an Endodontist because of their special training to perform root canal treatment. Most general dentists recognize the need to see a specialist for root canal therapy, especially when the treatment involves a molar or a bicuspid. The fact that they have referred you means that they have your best interest in mind.
13. What will root canal therapy cost?
Root canal therapy is generally covered under most insurance plans under the "basic" category. This usually means 80% coverage. Patients who have HMO type insurance plans will have a set co-payment amount. We cannot guarantee insurance coverage before a claim is submitted to your insurance company. We do our best to calculate your estimated co-payment. Root canal therapy is expensive. Cost for basic root canal therapy without insurance coverage ranges from $850-$1100.
14. What options do I have for making my co-payment?
All co-payments are collected at the time treatment is rendered. For your convenience, we accept VISA, Mastercard, American Express, Discover, and Diner's Club cards. If you need financing, we participate with Care Credit. You can apply online at: www.carecredit.com or by calling 1 (800) 365-8295.
15. Do you take my insurance?
Dr. Davis participates with most major insurance plans. To verify whether she is a preferred provider for your insurance plan, please see the list below or contact a member of our office staff.
These are the plans we take:
- Aetna Basic, DMO & PPO
- Ameriplan
- Ameritas
- Blue Cross/Blue Shield/Carefirst PPO, not HMO
- Careington
- Cigna HMO & PPO
- Delta Dental (Tricare, AARP)
- Denex Dental
- Dental Benefit Providers
- Denta-Chek
- Dentemax
- Dental Healthcare & Associates
- Dental Health Alliance (DHA/Fortis)
- Dentaquest PPO/Consumer Dental
- GEHA
- Great West
- Guardian
- Humana
- Kaiser- Patients receive a 20% discount in fees
- Mamsi/United Healthcare
- Met Life
- Mutual of Omaha
- Sun Life Financial
- Trigon
- United Concordia
16. What is Nitrous Oxide? What does it cost? Should I choose to use it?
Nitrous Oxide is "Laughing Gas." People describe it as making time pass much more quickly. Nitrous Oxide or N2O is not generally covered by insurance companies. It costs $100.00. Nitrous Oxide has proven to be beneficial for anyone who is apprehensive about dental procedures. Instead of clutching the chair, you can laugh your way through your treatment.
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