

Dr. Bo Crofoot always takes the opportunity to save teeth if he can. If you’re told that you need root canal therapy, it’s actually good news because your natural tooth can be saved. Instead of needing an extraction and tooth replacement later, our safe and effective root canal treatments remove infections and cover your tooth with durable and lifelike dental crowns. If you’re experiencing extreme tooth sensitivity or pain, give us a call!
Just because you have a toothache doesn’t necessarily mean that you need to get a root canal. This service is reserved for teeth that have been damaged, decayed, or infected to the point where they can’t be treated with a filling or dental crown. Here are a few of the more common symptoms that could mean that you need a root canal to save your tooth:
If you have one or more of the symptoms listed above, let us know so we can get you scheduled for an appointment to take a look.
The root canal process is relatively straightforward. It starts with Dr. Crofoot administering a local anesthetic to numb the area. Next, he will create a small hole in the tooth to remove the pulp and any other infected structures from the tooth. He will them clean out the inner chamber of the tooth before filling and sealing it. A lot of the time, we will take impressions of your tooth to have a custom dental crown made for additional protection.
Root canal therapy is a safe way to prevent oral health issues from occurring in the future. Some benefits include:
Curious to know how much you can expect to pay for a root canal? Because every patient’s situation is unique, there is no one-size-fits-all cost of a root canal in Rexburg. Instead, there are several factors that can influence the final cost of this restorative treatment. To obtain an accurate price estimate, schedule an initial consultation with Dr. Bo Crofoot. In the meantime, you can learn more about the cost of root canals by reading the information below.
Dr. Crofoot, an experienced emergency dentist in Rexburg, will need to assess the tooth or teeth in question to determine the exact cost of your root canal. There are several factors that can influence how much you end up paying to preserve a tooth, including:
Some patients ask if it would be simpler – and cheaper – to skip the root canal and just remove the compromised tooth instead. It’s true that extracting a tooth typically costs less upfront than root canal therapy. However, removing a tooth now could potentially lead to higher dental care costs in the future. This is especially true if you don’t replace a removed tooth with a dental bridge or implant. Missing even a single tooth can lead to bite problems, oral hygiene trouble, and other issues. Of course, any dental restoration will come with a cost of its own. For this reason, it’s usually more cost-effective to save your natural tooth with a root canal rather than remove and replace it.
Most dental insurance companies consider root canal therapy to be a major procedure and cover anywhere between 50% to 80% of the cost. However, every dental insurance plan is slightly different. Before scheduling a root canal, be sure to contact your insurance provider and confirm your coverage. Our knowledgeable team will be happy to help you with this process. We always work to ensure our patients maximize their dental insurance benefits and we’ll even file insurance paperwork on your behalf.
At Cornerstone Dental of Rexburg, we believe every patient should have access to affordable restorative care. That’s why we offer an in-house membership plan! Basically, for a low monthly (or annual) fee, you get all the preventive services you need for a year PLUS up to 15% off other procedures. Compared to the complexities of dental insurance, our membership plans are straightforward and clear.
We also are happy to connect our patients to flexible financing programs like CareCredit and Lending Club. These trusted third-party financiers allow you to break down the cost of root canal therapy into manageable monthly payments. Many of their plans have little to zero interest attached! We can also help patients obtain an interest-free loan through Mountain America Credit Union. Ask our staff for more details.
To learn more about the cost of root canals in Rexburg and different payment options, don’t hesitate to contact our office.
Do you have a root canal in Rexburg coming up soon? Maybe you’ve got some anxiety about it because of some scary rumors you’ve heard. Unfortunately, too many patients let worries influence their decision to put off the procedure which literally ends up costing them a tooth. At Cornerstone Dental of Rexburg, we don’t want your nervousness to prevent you from regaining the healthy, natural smile you deserve. To put your mind at ease, our team has answered some frequently asked questions below. If you don’t see a question that’s been on your mind, be sure to contact our office!
Intense tooth pain often leads people to their dentist’s office only to discover they need a root canal. However, just because you don’t feel any tooth pain doesn’t mean that everything is fine. It’s possible your tooth’s nerves have “died” due to trauma or infection without first feeling any discomfort, and so your tooth is no longer capable of feeling pain. Biannual dental exams are crucial to allow your dentist to check for any signs of trouble that you may not have noticed.
Although root canal therapy can usually be completed in one appointment, it may sometimes require two sessions. Dr. Crofoot will place a temporary antibacterial medicine inside the tooth to relieve your pain. Next, he will create a small hole in the tooth to remove the pulp and any other infected structures. He will then clean out the inner chamber of the tooth before filling and sealing it. In most cases, the procedure will take 30-90 minutes. Of course, the amount of time varies depending on the location of the tooth. Molars have more root canals that must be disinfected than front teeth, so root canal therapy for back teeth usually takes more time.
Faulty research conducted almost a century ago led to persistent rumors claiming root canals are unsafe and increase your risk of various medical conditions. However, the American Association of Endodontists (AAE) has thoroughly debunked this idea. Root canal therapy performed by a qualified dentist in Rexburg is quite safe with a success rate of about 95 percent. As with any medical procedure, there is a very small chance of some bacteria remaining in the tooth after a root canal and causing reinfection. It’s important to play it safe, so be sure to let your dentist know if you experience intense swelling, pain, or fever in the days after your root canal.
Even though the recovery time is different for everyone, most patients can return to their usual activities the day after their root canal. Keep in mind that strenuous exercise can divert blood from the site and delay the healing process. That said, if your job requires physical labor, it’s best to take the next 2-3 days off. Your mouth will also feel sore in the first few days after your procedure. Fortunately, you can manage your discomfort by taking over-the-counter pain medication and using a cold compress. While you heal, make sure you avoid chewing on the side of your mouth where the root canal occurred.
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