In addition to being extremely painful, tooth infections can be very dangerous to not just the infected tooth, but to the surrounding teeth and the rest of your body. If not treated promptly, it can even cause sepsis, which can be fatal. But when it comes to treatment, which option is best? A root canal or an extraction? Here’s how to determine which procedure makes the most sense for your smile.
The Pros and Cons of Tooth Extractions
Tooth extractions are often a more popular choice than root canals because they are more affordable, however this is not always the case.
Cost aside, removing an infected tooth ensures that there is no way to miss any infected root canals within the tooth itself, however if the infection has already spread to other teeth or throughout the body, extraction may not help either way.
The other downside to tooth extraction is that your adult teeth do not grow back, so as mentioned above you will need to replace the removed tooth. Failure to do so could result in a variety of problems including tooth drift, speech problems, difficulties chewing food, and even jawbone deterioration. Therefore, it is very important to either get a dental implant or dental bridge, or if you are missing numerous teeth, dentures are also a popular option.
The Pros and Cons of Root Canals
Root canals are specifically designed to preserve an infected tooth. Your dentist will open up the tooth, remove the infected pulp, and replace it with a synthetic pulp that prevents further infection and keeps the tooth alive. Then, the tooth is sealed with either a crown or filling. Once healed, it should be fully functional and last a lifetime.
Though they are more expensive than extractions, root canals allow you to keep your natural tooth, which can save you time and money in the long run, since you won’t need to replace the tooth. Though dental implants are considered a permanent restoration, most root canal procedures are still less expensive than just one single dental implant!
Root Canal Versus Extraction: Which is Right for You?
Now that you know the pros and cons of each treatment, you may be wondering which option is best for you. Unfortunately, while you may prefer one over the other, it may not be possible, such as if your tooth is too decayed to survive with a root canal. Thankfully, your dentist can help you determine the best course of action based on your oral health, budget, and your personal preferences. In most cases she will prefer to preserve your natural teeth for as long as possible, but regardless of which treatment you receive, you can rest assured that your dentist will do everything she can to ensure that your treatment is safe and effective, and that you are kept comfortable throughout the procedure.
About Dr. Miedema
Dr. Jenny Miedema followed in the footsteps of her dentist dad and earned her dental degree in 2017. Since then, she’s been helping make patients smile with her combination of compassion, kindness, and impressive dental skills.
If you have a tooth infection and can’t decide how best to treat it, let Dr. Miedema and the talented team at Roosevelt Dental help find a solution that works for your smile. To schedule an appointment, please visit our website or call us today at 207-894-5580.