Root Canal vs Extraction

The question of whether to have a root canal vs extraction is important to your oral health.  For damaged or infected teeth dental treatment is clearly needed and more information will help you make your plan.

While such a comparison is difficult this information will indeed prepare you for a conversation with your dental professional.

If you have a medical emergency call 911.
For an urgent dental situation or to determine who you should see for dental care, find an endodontist near you, an oral surgeon, a walk in dentist, 24 hour dentist, pediatric dentist, sedation dentist, or even a dentist on Sunday.

Root Canal vs Extraction: Save a tooth

Part of understanding this question is when a root canal may save a tooth.  Above all, when a tooth has infected or damaged pulp a root canal may save the tooth.  A tooth’s pulp is the soft innermost layer with nerves and blood vessels.

The tooth’s pulp can certainly be damaged by a crack or deep cavity.  Both of these situations may allow bacteria and infection into the pulp, leading the pulp to swell and become painful.

Root canal vs extraction

Extraction may be only option

This question may be somewhat settled in some dental situations.  Since a tooth must be structurally strong for a root canal, anything that greatly reduces the shape and strength of the tooth will mean tooth extraction is the only choice.

Of course in cases when a very large cavity greatly weakens a tooth, a cracked tooth or a large chip in a tooth may also not be structurally strong.  A tooth with a crack below the gumline may also need to be extracted.

The options are always important to consider, yet sometimes your dental professional may only have one path to consider.

Root Canal Treatment

To make the root canal vs extraction decision, it’s helpful to understand root canal basics.  A root canal is a procedure to relieve dental pain and save your tooth.  A root canal is needed when the tooth’s pulp becomes inflamed or infected and is usually even easier in a front tooth.

During a root canal the pulp is removed from the tooth and the root canals are cleaned, disinfected, and shaped.  Finally a seal is placed over the tooth for protection and in most cases a crown is placed to further protect the tooth.

Pain after a root canal should be mild to moderate, make an appointment to see your dental professional if you suffer severe pain.

Root Canal vs Extraction: Tooth extraction

A bit about tooth extraction is useful when thinking about root canal vs extraction.  Tooth extraction (pulling out the tooth) begins with an injection of local anesthetic so you do not feel pain during the procedure.

Once the area is numb the dental professional will grasp the tooth with forceps and rock it back and forth.  This motion removes the tooth from the ligaments and jaw.  Sometimes the tooth comes out whole and some times it proves simpler to take it out in pieces.

Prior to tooth extraction tell your dental professional if you have any of the following:

-Damaged or man-made heart valves

-Impaired immune system

-Liver disease

-Congenital heart defect

-Artificial joint

When to see dental professional

According to research some people really want to keep their natural teeth and some people are looking for a low cost option.  These desires for your dental and financial health are natural.

A dentist or other dental professional can conduct a dental exam to determine the options available in your situation.

Now that you better understand your root canal vs extraction options the next step is to see a dental professional.  Make an appointment immediately.