Allentown Root Canal

Dr. Jason A. Pellegrino is a dentist and has answered some of the common questions Bizymoms visitors have about Root Canal.


Q. What is root canal treatment?

A. Root canal treatment is a procedure that is done in order to save a tooth that has an abscess (infection), severe decay, and/or fracture.  A root canal can also be done if a tooth has broken down to the point that there is not enough tooth structure to retain a filling or a crown.

Q. What does treatment involve?

A. A root canal involves accessing the pulp (nerve canals) through the top of the tooth, removing the infected nerve tissue, and sealing off the nerve canal down to the very end to prevent bacteria from re-entering.  Typically, the tooth is in a weaker, brittle state following root canal because the pulp (nerve) no longer provides nutrients and moisture. Additionally, the conditions that led to the need for root canal (decay or fracture) often leave the tooth in a weakened state.  Therefore, a crown (cap) is usually recommended to prevent the tooth from fracturing.

Q. What are the signs of needing endodontic treatment?

A. Symptoms of root canal treatment include one or more of the following:  severe decay, persistent pain, heat sensitivity, pain on biting, swelling, and/or pus drainage.  However, at times there are no visible signs or symptoms that a tooth needs endodontic treatment.  In those cases, the abscess can only be seen on an x-ray.  This is why it is important to have exams and x-rays done by your dentist on a regular basis.

Q. Are pain pills and antibiotics an acceptable substitute for root canal?

A. One of the most common misconceptions is that antibiotics and/or pain pills will heal an abscess and avoid the need for root canal. Unfortunately, there is no "magic pill" to cure a dental infection.  Antibiotics can clear the infection around the tooth, but cannot penetrate into the nerve canal.  So antibiotics can give temporary relief, but the infection will always come back.  That is why it very important not to wait to complete root canal treatment after it is recommended.

Q. Are there alternative treatments for root canal?

A. Unfortunately, in most cases the only alternative to root canal treatment is to extract the tooth.  This may seem like a good option, but extracting one or more teeth in the mouth can cause drifting and/or tilting of the adjacent and opposing teeth.  This can often cause problems with the bite and eventually cause loosening of the teeth.  Missing teeth can also cause difficulty chewing food properly which can lead to poor nutrition.

Q. How much will the procedure cost?

A. Root canal treatment is a very complex, specialized treatment and this is reflected in the fees.  Teeth in the front of the mouth have only one root making root canals simpler in that area of the mouth.  Of course this is not true in all cases.  The molars in the back of the mouth have 3-4 roots and  treatment can be much more complex.  So cost can vary depending on the size and location of the tooth.  The cost also depends on the individual dentist and the materials used.  The root canal procedure itself can cost anywhere from $500 to $1100 depending on the above factors. Dental insurance may cover part of this cost if you are fortunate enough to have it.  Most often, as I stated earlier, a crown (cap) is needed following the root canal.  The cost for a crown generally range between $800 and $1300 depending on a number of factors.  Again, most dental insurance plans cover a portion of that.

Q. Will the tooth need any special care or additional treatment?

A. After endodontic (root canal) treatment, typically a temporary filling is placed in the tooth.  This is meant only for short term use.  If the tooth is left too long with a temporary filling one of the following problems may occur:  fracture, decay, or infection of the tooth.  Therefore, it is very important for patients to return to their dentist within a month to have a permanent filling and/or crown placed after a root canal. 

Q.  How to contact Dr. Pellegrino if we have further questions?

A. You can contact me by phone or email if you have any questions:
Phone:  610-530-7901
E-mail:  info@allentowndentist.com
www.allentowndentist.com