What is the difference between a root canal, a filling, and a build up & cro!

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A root canal is when the nerve of the tooth in the center is removed after it has become infected by a cavity that wasn't drilled and filled in time. The root canal is filled with material and then a "buildup" to make up for lost tooth.

A crown is a hardened exterior shell placed over the remaining buildup and tooth.

A filling is a drilling out of a cavity, or erosion in the tooth enamel, before it reaches the nerve, then material placed in cavity so the decay doesn't spread further.

It's ideal to get one's teeth cleaned and Xrayed every six months to get cavities filled before they become expensive and painful, requiring root canals and crowns to save the tooth.

If the decay of the tooth reaches the nerve, the resulting infection will make the body start pushing the tooth out of your mouth and it will be lost. Anti-biotics are used to quell the infection, but the infection returns unless the root canal or tooth removal is performed.

Root canals are expensive, ranging from $800-$2000 and then the same range amount for a crown.

A twice a year checkup, cleaning, routine brushing, flossing with the occasional filling is nothing compared to the pain of a infected nerve and the cost of a root canal.