Dentistry is the known evaluation, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of diseases, disorders and conditions of the soft and hard tissues of the jaw (mandible), the oral cavity, maxillofacial area and the adjacent.
An Interview with Dr. Jeff Routsong on Root Canal
Dr. Jeff Routsong 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 the filling of a tooth root with rubber sealing material to prevent and eliminate infection of bacteria into the tooth’s nerve canal.
Q. What does treatment involve?
A. When patients have decay that goes into the nerve, often there is a bacterial infection into the nerve, this can cause pain because the inflamed nerve is surrounded on all sides by hard tooth structure. This creates a large pressure build up inside the tooth which can only be released by drilling down into the tooth and releasing the pressure, then cleaning out the nerve canals with files and cleaning agents. Then the tooth can be filled with the rubber sealer spoken of. Root canal Treatment, when performed correctly is typically 95% successful and has a long term prognosis.
Q. What are the signs of needing endodontic treatment?
A. Usual symptoms are severe throbbing pain in a tooth. Extreme sensitivity to hot and cold liquids. Constant pain. Often a patient will not have any symptoms but because a cavity has gone to the nerve, a root canal treatment will be necessary. Also, if a tooth is severely broken down at the gum line, and the patient does not want to pull the tooth, It may require a root canal a post inside the canal and a buildup of additional tooth structure with filling material to create a sufficient foundation for a tooth to support a crown.
Q. Are pain pills and antibiotics an acceptable substitute for root canal?
A. Pain pills and antibiotics can relieve symptoms, and often for an extended period of time, but only root canal therapy will alleviate the true cause of these symptoms.
Q. Are there alternative treatments for root canal?
A. The alternative to root canal therapy is to pull out the tooth and replace it with a bridge, or implant. Or to pull out the tooth and do nothing. These options depend on the patient.
Q. How much will the procedure cost?
A. Root canal procedure costs are determined by the insurance companies. We are in network with a numerous amount of insurances and all root canal fees differ depending on whether the tooth is a molar, bicuspid or front tooth. Front teeth range from $381 to $650. Bicuspid ranges from $425 to $700. Molar ranges from $570 to $900. The high end of the range is for Cash Paying patients. The cost will be lower for patients insurance if they have sufficient remaining benefits for the year to cover a portion of the root canal treatment. Most insurances cover root canals at 50%, however, some cover 80%.
Q. Will the tooth need any special care or additional treatment?
A. Typically for molars and bicuspids, we recommend a build up and a crown to prevent bacterial leakage and recurring infection into the root canal treated tooth. Front teeth may need crowns or fillings on a case to case basis.
Q. How to contact Dr. Routsong if we have further questions?
A.
Address:
5800 Stanford Ranch Rd #510
Rocklin, CA 95765
Phone:916-435-3060
Email:jeffreyroutsongdds@gmail.com
Website: http://www.routsongfamilydentistry.com/
