When you have a dental emergency like a painful toothache or trauma to a tooth, you can schedule an emergency dental appointment with your dentist in Fort Lauderdale by calling Excellence in Dentistry at 954-928-1666. Dr. Nancy Rotroff and Dr. Gerard Wasselle will make every effort to see you same day to alleviate your pain and repair any damage. If your tooth is seriously damaged or infected, your treatment options may include root canal therapy or tooth extraction. You may ask "should I have my tooth pulled or have a root canal?" This is a question you will need to discuss with your dentist to decide which option is best for you.
Dr. Nancy Rotroff and Dr. Gerard Wasselle will always encourage the most conservative treatment option which is to save your natural tooth when able. Tooth extraction is only suggested when your tooth is so severely damaged or cracked as to be unrepairable. While some patients may think that extraction is a lower cost option, saving your tooth with root canal therapy is more advantageous in the long run. While a tooth extraction removes the immediate problem and alleviates your pain, it creates the need for further treatment to replace the missing tooth and restore proper occlusion. Root canal therapy treats the problem without the loss of your natural tooth.
During a root canal, your tooth’s infected pulp is removed and then the canal of your tooth is cleaned and sealed to prevent further infection. It is performed under local anesthesia by a your dentist or an endodontist who has received specialized training for the treatment of conditions of the interior of the tooth. After your root canal therapy, additional treatment such as covering the tooth with a dental crown may still be needed to protect your tooth.
Prior to starting the root canal, your dentist or endodontist will thoroughly numb the area so the procedure will be virtually painless. You may feel pressure as the dentist performs the procedure and you may experience some sensitivity in the area for a few days following the procedure. You can take over the counter pain medication to alleviate any discomfort.
Just as with any procedure, your comfort is important. Prior to any dental extraction, Dr. Wasselle will administer anesthetic to thoroughly numb the area. You should only feel pressure during the tooth extraction. With a severe infection, it can be difficult to thoroughly numb the area. If stitches are placed, you may need a post operative visit to remove them. Following the extraction of your tooth, your dentist will go over your tooth replacement options including dental bridge, partial dentures and dental implant.
The initial cost of a root canal can range between $900 and $1600 while the cost of extracting a tooth falls closer to $250. Following a root canal, you may also require a dental crown which will range between $1500 to $1800. Following the extraction of your tooth, you will need to replace your missing tooth to restore proper occlusion and oral health. Tooth replacement options include a dental bridge, a partial denture, sometimes called a flipper, or a dental implant. A dental bridge consists of at least three dental crowns, requires two or more visits to your dentist and can range from $4500 to $6000. A partial denture is a more economic tooth replacement option though patients usually do not find it as comfortable.
A dental implant consists of three components: the dental implant, the abutment and the implant crown and requires multiple visits to you dentist over the course of several months. This tooth replacement option can range from $4500 and up depending on the need for additional procedures such as bone grafting.
Yes, over the long run, root canal therapy is a lower overall cost treatment option, with less discomfort and fewer visits to your dental office. Although tooth extraction may initially seem like a quick and affordable solution to a dental emergency, saving your tooth with root canal therapy is the superior and ultimately less costly treatment option. If you are unsure which treatment option is best in your particular case, schedule a consultation with Dr. Nancy Rotroff or Dr. Gerard Wasselle by calling Excellence in Dentistry at 954-928-1666. Our dental office is conveniently located on Commercial Blvd in Fort Lauderdale and we are in network for many PPO dental insurance plans.
