Root canal treatment is one of the best ways of curing tooth-related problems. This article will list the various factors that affect the cost of this treatment.
You experience excruciating pain in your tooth. You immediately go to the dentist and get it checked. The dentist suggests you a root canal. Root canal is probably, the best treatment that can be used for treating and curing dental problems. It is a procedure that involves the removal of infected pulp present in the root canal and then sealing the tooth. It cannot be completed in a single seating and requires many visits to the dentist. Along with the worry of the pain involved in the procedure, patients are also concerned about the cost of treatment.
Factors Affecting the Cost
Tooth to Be Treated
The primary factor is the location of the tooth and the number of canals it has. If the front tooth is to be treated (has only one root canal) the cost may range from around USD 500 to USD 800. If the tooth infected is a premolar one, it would generally vary from approximately USD 700 to USD 1,000. If the back teeth, also known as molars, are to be worked on; the range would be USD 800 to USD 1,300. The expenditure for molar teeth is more because they have three or more root canals. The cost also depends on how complex the procedure turns out to be.
Location
One more important determinant is the location where the treatment is to be carried out. If you choose an urban area, the cost would be more as compared to any rural area. There are many people who travel to other places to undergo the surgery. Some even prefer traveling to other countries where they would have to pay much less, while maintaining the same quality of treatment.
Experience, Expertise and, Reputation of the Dentist
If the procedure is carried out by an endodontist (a specialist dealing with complex teeth, nerve, and gum problems), the cost would be approximately 30% to 50% higher than what a normal dentist would charge. Naturally, more the experience and expertise of the dental surgeon, more will be his fees. The reputation of the dentist also has a large impact. If a dentist is well-known to carry out operations successfully, he would obviously charge more than others.
Type of the Crown
A crown is a kind of faux tooth that is placed over the original tooth which is treated. The cost of the crown is separate from that of the procedure. The materials used for making the crown would substantially add up to the expense. Generally, there are three types of crowns: ceramic, half ceramic and half metal, and full metal. The ceramic one will be the most expensive, as it would be of the same color as the tooth. There can be many other types of materials used to make crowns.
The overall cost can also vary, according to the treatments used for complications that occur during the procedure. Dentists generally provide suitable payment options which can be used to pay off the huge amounts in installments. You also need to check the dental insurance formalities before undergoing the treatment, which can help significantly.
Disclaimer: This HealthHearty article is for informative purposes only, and should not be used as a replacement for expert medical advice.
