Dr. Shannon Norman-Kotre 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 needed when a tooth becomes infected or inflammed. A tooth may become infected due to many reasons, such as deep dental decay or repeated dental treatment. Infection of the pulp (nerve) can lead to pain, tenderness and sensitivity. A root canal removes the infected pulp of the tooth while leaving the tooth inside the mouth, thereby removing the pain and infection.
Q. What does treatment involve?
A. Root canal treatment is often performed by an endodontist, someone who specializes in doing root canals.
Treatment involves giving local anesthetic to numb the tooth , and then creating a small opening in the top of the tooth so the dentist or endodontist can get inside the tooth to reach the pulp. Once inside the canal space, the dentist cleans out the pulp, then shapes and disinfects the root canal space to remove all the infection. Then a "rubber-like" material is placed inside the root canal to seal the root.
Q. What are the signs of needing endodontic treatment?
A. Signs that you need a root canal treatment are tooth pain, lingering sensitivity to cold or hot temperature and swelling or tenderness in the tooth or gums around the tooth. Sometimes, however, there are no symptoms.
Q. Are pain pills and antibiotics an acceptable substitute for root canal?
A. Pain pills and antibiotics are not a substitute for root canal treatment. The pills will help with the immediate pain, but if a root canal is not performed, the infection will come back, even as soon as a few weeks later.
Q. Are there alternative treatments for root canal?
A. There are no alternatives to root canal treatment, except to consider having the tooth extracted. Root canal treatment is the best treatment as an alternative to losing a tooth that becomes infected and painful.
Q. How much will the procedure cost?
A. The cost varies depending upon which tooth needs to be treated. Molar teeth, the big chewing teeth in the back, are usually more expensive because they are more difficult to treat. Most root canal treatments are partially covered through one’s dental insurance plan. In Ann Arbor, root canal treatments are between $700 and $1100, depending upon which tooth is being treated and how complex the treatment is going to be.
Q. Will the tooth need any special care or additional treatment?
A. Once a root canal is completed, the tooth will need special care. You should continue to brush and floss the tooth, and return to your general dentist soon after the root canal treatment. The dentist will make a full crown, or "cap", to go over the outside of the tooth to protect it from fracturing or breaking. We recommend that be done within 2 weeks after the root canal treatment is completed.
Q. How to contact Dr. Norman-Kotre if we have further questions?
A.
Address:
2240 S. Huron Parkway
Ann Arbor, MI 48104
Phone: 734-677-2156
E-mail: info@kotreannarbordentist.com, shannonkotre@yahoo.com
Website: http://www.kotreannarbordentist.com/
