Root Canal Versus Tooth Extraction: What is Right For Me?

Root canals and extractions have their advantages, but one is better for your overall oral health and facial development. Read on in this blog from Washington Dental Studio to find out why you may want to think a little harder about having a tooth removed. 

What Is a Root Canal?

A root canal is a minimally invasive restorative treatment used to treat an infected tooth. When decay has penetrated through the dental pulp or the pulp has become inflamed due to dental trauma, bacteria that have reached the innermost layer of the tooth lead to an infection.

The only way to treat a tooth infection is to remove the source of the infection. This means that the dental pulp itself needs to be removed. In a root canal, we make an access hole into the tooth and scrape out all of the infected pulp, including the root. 

Then, each of the tooth’s canals is thoroughly cleaned, sanitized, and reshaped. This process can take multiple appointments because some teeth have up to 4 canals. Then, the inside of the tooth where the pulp used to be is filled with a material called gutta-percha. 

The tooth can survive without the pulp because it continues to receive nutrients from the surrounding tissues. Since a root canal significantly weakens the tooth, it’s recommended that you place a dental crown over the tooth for additional protection and durability.

What Is an Extraction?

An extraction is the removal of a tooth from the socket and can be performed in two different ways. A tooth that is impacted (not fully erupted through the gums) is surgically extracted through an incision and a fully erupted tooth requires a basic extraction, which is the simple loosening and pulling of the tooth. 

In a surgical extraction, an incision is made into the gums and usually requires removing additional bone that is covering the tooth. Then, the tooth is sectioned into smaller pieces. From there, it’s removed in the same way as any other basic extraction, which is to loosen the tooth with a dental elevator and then use forceps to firmly grab the tooth and remove it. 

Which One Is Right for Me?

A root canal is used to treat a tooth infection, while an extraction may be needed for a variety of reasons, including infection, gum disease, impacted wisdom teeth, dental trauma, to make room for orthodontic treatment, or overcrowding. 

They’re fundamentally different procedures in that root canals are minimally invasive and aim to restore the health of the tooth to save it from extraction. Extraction is typically used as a last resort when the tooth cannot be repaired, we have exhausted all other options, or the patient cannot afford restorative treatment. 

Both root canals and extractions will relieve pain from infection by removing the source of the infection. However, only one procedure will save your tooth and restore it to health while preventing bone loss, shifting teeth, and changes to your facial structure.

While an extraction may seem like the most convenient, cheap, and time-saving option, it will actually create many more problems for you. If you have a tooth extracted, it’s important to replace the tooth to avoid aesthetic issues, difficulty chewing, and orthodontic problems. 

Only a dental implant can prevent bone loss, but an implant is much more expensive and time-consuming than treating the original tooth with a root canal. Bone loss increases your risk for future tooth loss and leads to premature facial sagging which can make you look older.

Have a Decayed or Damaged Tooth? Schedule a Consultation Today!

If you have a tooth infection or a damaged tooth, contact us at Washington Dental Studio today to schedule a consultation with our Naperville dentist. He will examine your tooth and take x-rays to determine if the tooth can be saved or requires removal and replacement.

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