Root Canal & Endodontic Therapy Treatments in Madison, WI
Root canal treatments, also called endodontic therapy, are performed when infection reaches the inner pulp of a tooth. Endodontics focuses on treating issues inside the tooth to relieve pain and preserve your natural tooth. At Total Care Dental in Madison, our dentists have over 50 years of combined experience providing endodontic treatment with comfort and care.
Our Root canal and endodontic therapy in Madison, WI is designed to provide comfort and effectiveness when removing infected material and improving your oral health.
What is a Root Canal?
Root canal therapy is an endodontic procedure that treats infected or damaged tooth pulp to save the natural tooth and relieve pain. Once the pulp becomes infected, an abscess or pocket of pus from a bacterial infection can form. The infection must be treated in a timely manner to avoid severe health concerns and relieve the often extreme pain you may be experiencing.
Root canal procedures are generally performed to save a healthy tooth with damage (such as a cracked tooth) or infection from within. Root canals can be done in one or more visits to the dentist, depending on the severity of the infection or damage to the tooth. There are around 15 million root canal procedures performed each year, with more than 41,000 procedures every day.
What are Signs You Need a Root Canal?
Root canal treatments are necessary when an untreated dental cavity reaches to the pulp or if tooth trauma causes nerve damage. Once the pulp becomes infected, it can eat away at the surrounding bone (known as an abscess). The infected pulp may be painful and will require treatment as it cannot heal on its own.
Symptoms of a Root Canal
Sensitivity to hot, cold or sweets
Pain from biting or pressure
Discoloration or darkening of the tooth
Swelling and tenderness in the gums
Pimple on the gums
Bad taste in the mouth
Sometimes no symptoms are apparent and you may be unaware of any problem until a checkup. Regular dental visits and good oral hygiene habits are your best bet for preventing the need for a root canal.
If you are having tooth pain, don’t wait. Schedule a dental appointment to get your tooth checked. A small infection may only need a filling for treatment. Catching a problem before an infection spreads to the pulp of your tooth avoids the need for a root canal in the first place.
Once your tooth is infected, you need treatment as soon as possible. Failure to get a root canal can lead to more widespread infection in the rest of your mouth.
At Total Care Dental, we use advanced techniques to make your root canal therapy as comfortable and effective as possible. Here’s what you can expect during the treatment process:
1. Diagnosis and Evaluation
Inside every tooth is a soft tissue called the pulp, which contains nerves and blood vessels. When the pulp becomes inflamed or infected, root canal therapy is necessary to remove the infection and save the tooth. Inflammation and infection are often caused by:
Deep tooth decay
Cracked teeth
Trauma (sudden damage)
Our Madison dentists use digital imaging and diagnostic tools to assess the damage and create a personalized treatment plan.
2. Removing the Infected Pulp
Once the area is numbed with local anesthesia, a small opening is made in the tooth to access the pulp chamber. The infected or damaged pulp is removed and the inside of the tooth is thoroughly cleaned and shaped. We then disinfect the canals to eliminate bacteria and reduce the risk of reinfection.
3. Sealing and Filling the Tooth
After cleaning, the tooth is filled with a biocompatible material called gutta-percha. This rubber-like substance seals the canals and helps stabilize the tooth from the inside. A temporary filling is placed on top to protect the tooth until your next visit.
4. Placing the Final Crown
Since the tooth no longer receives nutrients from the pulp, it may weaken or darken over time. Our team places a custom dental crown over the treated tooth. The custom crown noticeably restores important aspects of your teeth, including:
Strength and durability
Function
Appearance (fills crevices and provides a natural color)
The crown protects your tooth and allows you to bite and chew normally.
Without insurance, the cost of a root canal in Madison, Wisconsin is between $700 and $1,400. The cost of the root canal depends on the tooth's condition, how complex the treatment is, and where in Wisconsin it is being performed.
Root canal payment plans
A painful infection should not be ignored because of financial concerns. Many Madison area residents believe they cannot afford root canal treatment without dental insurance, which is not true for Total Care Dental patients. Our dental financial plans make everything from a root canal to a typical checkup affordable for everyone. We accept cash, personal checks, credit cards, CareCredit, Illumisure and most major insurance plans.
Types of Root Canals
Type of Root Canal
Description
Anterior Root Canal
Performed on front teeth like incisors or canines. These teeth usually have one root, making the procedure more straightforward.
Premolar Root Canal
Performed on premolars located behind the canines. These teeth typically have two roots, adding complexity to the procedure.
Molar Root Canal
Performed on molars in the back of the mouth. With three or more roots, molar root canals are more complex and time-intensive.
Apicoectomy
A surgical root canal procedure used when the root tip is infected. The end of the root is removed and sealed with a filling.
After your root canal, your tooth may be sensitive for a few days due to inflammation. Over-the-counter pain relievers should allow you to return to your normal daily activities the next day. If good oral hygiene is practiced at home in addition to preventative care, including regular dental visits, your restored tooth can remain healthy.
Root Canal Payment Plans
A painful infection should not be ignored because of financial concerns. Many Madison area patients believe they cannot afford root canal treatment without dental insurance. At Total Care Dental, this isn’t true. Our financial dental plans make everything from a root canal to a typical checkup affordable for everyone. We accept cash, personal check, credit cards, CareCredit, Illumisure, and most major insurance plans.
If left untreated, not only will a root canal infection get increasingly painful, an abscess can form and become life-threatening over time by entering the bloodstream and causing toxic shock. Antibiotics may suppress some of the symptoms temporarily, but cannot cure the infected pulp. The main benefit of a root canal is you get to keep your original tooth and avoid having it extracted. Other advantages to saving a natural tooth with a root canal treatment include efficient chewing, keeping a natural appearance, and keeping a normal biting sensation.
The root canal process can be uncomfortable. However, advancement in modern medicine and equipment has improved the process dramatically. TCD Madison’s dental professionals will work together with you to ensure the procedure is as painless and quick as possible. We provide you with the proper tools and pain management advice for when you leave our office. Whatever your dental concern may be, our team will form a plan concerning pain treatment that is designed specifically for you based on your individual case.
Your dentist will recommend a root canal procedure if you have a tooth that is infected or damaged and cannot be repaired with a filling or crown. Root canals can be more expensive and time-consuming than other dental treatments, but are an effective last-ditch effort to save a tooth that would otherwise need to be extracted. If you have a tooth that is causing you pain or discomfort, talk to your dentist as soon as possible for the best course of action.
Root canals can be performed in a single visit in some cases. Single-visit root canals are most common if the tooth is not severely infected or damaged and you don’t have underlying health conditions that could lead to complications. In most other cases, your dentist may recommend you return for a second visit to clean up infected tissue and to place a crown over the tooth. Dental Inlays and Onlays could be an option but consult your dentist.
No Insurance? We've Got You Covered.
Total Care Dental offers multi-level payment options for a variety of dental care services at our Madison, WI location. Enjoy routine checkups, cleanings, x-rays, periodontal preventative care and more without the hassle of dealing with insurance companies that don't value your time or health needs.
Our team of compassionate and knowledgeable professionals create a warm, inviting atmosphere, ensuring patients of all ages feel welcome. At TCD, we treat every patient like a member of our family.
Low-cost monthly payments
