Root Canal Treatment Cost, Procedure & Time Required

Root canal treatment (RCT) or an ‘Endocrine Therapy’ is a dental procedure performed to preserve a tooth. It is the process of saving a damaged or badly infected tooth instead of extracting it. 

Why RCT?

First, let us understand that a root canal is not a treatment but part of a tooth. Our teeth consist of three essential layers:

• Enamel – The outermost layer
• Dentin – Next inner layer
• Pulp – Innermost part of the tooth

Sometimes a tiny decay in enamel or dentin occurs, which may not cause any sensitivity or pain. But, it is the most sensitive part of the tooth and is connected with various nerves and blood vessels. When the pulp gets exposed due to decay or injury, it will cause sensitivity and pain. Here root canal treatment plays a vital role in helping you rescue from pain. With the help of RCT, the pain can be controlled entirely and eliminated without extracting the tooth. 

Symptoms Indicating You Need a Root Canal Treatment

• Constant Tooth Pain

Dental problems cause tooth pain. If you are undergoing deep tooth pain and it is constant, you may need an RCT treatment. 

• Sensitivity

When your tooth becomes sensitive to heat and cold, if it hurts when you drink a hot beverage like tea/coffee or while eating something cold like ice cream, it strongly indicates that you need root canal treatment. 

• Swollen Gums

When a tooth gets infected, it tends to collect pus in the surrounded area leading to swollen gums. You may be encountered with puffy, swollen and tender gums. 

• Pimples on the Gums

Sometimes you may see a pimple on your gums. This is also due to infection. The infected tooth's pus may also drain from the pimple, leading to an unpleasant smell and taste. 

• Tooth Discoloration

This happens when the pulp of a tooth becomes infected, and can cause your tooth to look darker. This mainly happens because of poor blood supply to the tooth.

• Pain When Certain Pressure is Applied

You may also feel pain when you eat or touch your tooth. This indicates that your nerves surrounding the infected area have been damaged and require RCT treatment.

• A Chipped or Cracked Tooth

When you chip off your tooth because of an accident or while any other activity, the tooth becomes exposed to bacteria that may further reach all the way to pulp, raising the requirement of RCT.

• Loose Tooth

An infected tooth tends to lose in your tooth socket over time. This is because the pus from the infected pulp has softened the bone supporting the tooth.

Procedure for Root Canal Treatment

Step 1: The doctor takes an X-ray to help determine the extent and the approach of infection. In some cases, the dentist can also give local anesthesia so that the patient does not feel any pain during the treatment.

Step 2: The next step involves cavity preparation. A cavity in the tooth is prepared, and all the infected material is removed. Moreover, a proper approach to the treatment of the pulp is established. 

Step 3: Here, disinfection is done, and pulp canals are shaped. The infected pulp is cleared out completely while establishing thorough disinfection.

Step 4: Cleaned and disinfected canals are sealed with the help of an inert rubber filling material. 

Step 5: This is the final step and involves restoration and crowning. The crown portion of the cavity is restored with a filling followed by Cap cementation. 

RCT and Post-Treatment Care

• Ask your dentist to put a dental crown after RCT as soon as possible
• Do not apply pressure on the treated tooth. When there is no crown, the tooth is unprotected, and putting pressure can cause damage to the tooth
• Avoid eating hard and crunchy food till the tooth is restored completely
• Avoid hard brushing, and try to be more careful while brushing and flossing

Price of Root Canal Treatment in India

Several factors affect the cost of RCT in India. Basic treatment cost depends on the tooth's condition, type of crown chosen, and other complexities. Note that the root canal treatment for milk teeth of children costs differently. Other factors that influence the treatment cost include:

• Location of the Dentist: Dental clinics away from your living place will add traveling costs. Moreover, RCT treatment cost differs from city to city.
• The severity of the Case: RCT cost also depends on the severity of the damaged tooth, the number of teeth required to be treated, and the location of the affected tooth. Treatment of the tooth in the front cost lesser than the posterior tooth. 
• Type of Treatment: The painless RCT procedure is performed with the help of high-end digital machines and can be costlier than the traditional RCT treatment. These advanced equipment increases the success rate and can quicken the treatment process but may cost 30-40% more than the usual treatment cost. 
• Getting the Crown: Most RCT treatments require a crown, which increases the treatment cost. After a root canal treatment, a crown is usually placed to secure the tooth to prevent further damage. Choice of crown material is another factor that can fluctuate the total treatment cost. 

Gmoney loan for medical treatment 

Most of the time, you have to pay for RCT treatment from your pocket, as this treatment is usually not covered under your health cover. However, you can also consider taking an advance against the mediclaim policy. GMoney offers funds for any medical treatment, which is treated as a loan against your existing medical policy. According to your paying capacity, you can repay this loan in easy, no-cost EMIs. 

GMoney has also come up with its unique digital health cards. You can pay for your medical bills with the help of these cards and can pay back in EMIs, as per your monthly budget. To know more, log in to GMoney now.