If you have severe tooth decay and pain, you may need to have the tooth removed. However, before visiting a tooth extraction specialist, you may wonder: should I get a root canal or a tooth extraction? In this article, we discuss cases that can merit these procedures and the differences between them.
Should I Get a Root Canal or Tooth Extraction?
Only your dentist can give you a definitive answer to the question of whether you should get a root canal treatment or a tooth extraction. Both these procedures can be used in cases of severe tooth decay. However, the most significant difference between the two is that root canal therapy is aimed at preserving the natural tooth and restoring its function, while after an extraction, you will need to replace your natural tooth with an artificial restoration.
Symptoms That Indicate You Might Need Root Canal Therapy
During root canal therapy, the doctor accesses the inner chamber of the tooth through the crown to remove the infected pulp. Once the canals of the tooth are cleaned, they are filled with a special biocompatible material and sealed. In some cases, an antibacterial medication can be placed before that.
When the tooth’s structure is significantly weakened by decay or damage, a dental crown is placed after the root canal therapy. Overwise, such a tooth will not be able to withstand constant pressure applied by chewing, and the root canal will fail.
Your doctor might recommend root canal therapy in the following cases:
- Tooth decay has reached the pulp in the inner chamber of the tooth and cannot be removed and treated by a dental filling (such decay can be signified by one or several of such symptoms as consistent pain, sensitivity, gum inflammation around the tooth, persistent bad breath and unpleasant taste in the mouth, and fever).
- Infection or abscess is at the root of the tooth.
- You sustained an oral trauma that led to the tooth being cracked or chipped in a way that exposed the pulp.
- Oral trauma results in pulp or root damage, even when there are no visible cracks or chips on the outer surface of the tooth.
- The tooth that has been significantly weakened by previous procedures becomes reinfected and cannot sustain one more dental filling.
Cases in Which Tooth Extraction Might Be Recommended Over a Root Canal
In some cases, root canal therapy will not be effective at saving the tooth, and your doctor is likely to recommend extraction instead:
- The tooth’s structure is too damaged by decay and cannot be restored even if a crown is placed after a root canal (for example, when the decay reaches the root of the tooth)
- Oral trauma leads to the tooth being broken at the gum line.
- The presence of advanced gum disease leads to a loss of bone density around the tooth, and the tooth is no longer stable in its socket.
- The previous root canal treatment failed, and the tooth became reinfected.
- The previous unprofessional root canal treatment led to further damage to the tooth.
- The tooth sustained a vertical root fracture (a crack that runs down the root).
- The tooth is not essential for chewing or appearance, and the patient’s financial considerations prevent them from undergoing the root canal (especially if it has to be followed by a crown placement).
- Decayed wisdom teeth are often extracted instead of undergoing costly procedures such as root canals and crowns.
Benefits of Saving the Natural Tooth with Root Canal Treatment
If the condition of the tooth in question, the surrounding gum and bone tissue, and financial considerations allow, saving the natural tooth is always preferred to extraction. There are several reasons for this:
- Preserving your tooth maintains natural bite alignment, preventing other teeth from shifting their position and subsequent issues such as TMJ disorder.
- Saving the natural tooth prevents bone resorption (loss of jawbone density) that typically occurs after extraction and often leads to changes in facial structure.
Make an Appointment at Highland Smiles Today
As we mentioned earlier, only an experienced dentist can determine whether your tooth can be saved with root canal therapy or if it needs to be extracted to prevent further oral health complications. Do not hesitate to make an appointment with a highly qualified specialist at the Highland Smiles dental office today. Our specialists will thoroughly examine your case and offer the best course of action.
We look forward to your visit.
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