Tooth Extraction Vs. Root Canal: Which Is Better?
How would you react if your dentist recommended a root canal to treat a severely decayed tooth? Your initial reaction will probably be to rush out of the dentist’s office, making excuses to avoid or delay the therapy. Unfortunately, you overlook the dentist’s advice that the only alternative to preventing root canal therapy is to have your tooth extracted.
You might think having your tooth extracted is straightforward, affordable, and better than root canal therapy, which costs more, making you feel the latter is the better option. However, have you understood the realities of these procedures? If not, we suggest you continue reading this blog post to learn about root canal vs. extraction.
When You Dentists Recommend Root Canal and Tooth Extraction
If you have a severe toothache, it is likely the result of infection and inflammation of your dental pulp. The condition irritates the tooth’s nerve sending excruciating pain signals to your brain. Our dentists conveniently handle the issue by removing the tooth, including the infected tissue and nerve responsible for the pain.
On the other hand, root canal therapy is a conservative treatment helping you to preserve the natural tooth while removing the infection. Therefore, you might think root canal treatments are more harrowing than tooth extractions. Unfortunately, the reality is quite different because the treatment isn’t painful. On the contrary, the therapy relieves the pain you experience in a specific tooth by eradicating the infection in a procedure that’s no more painful than having a tooth filled.
Unfortunately, suppose you refuse root canal treatment. In that case, dentists have no alternative but to recommend tooth extractions to ensure the infection in your mouth doesn’t spread to the neighboring teeth or jawbone.
What Must You Entail during the Root Canal Process?
When you accept the proposal of your dentist to receive root canal treatment in Knoxville, the professional thoroughly examines your tooth by taking x-rays to determine the extent of the damage. After examining your tooth, the dentist delivers anesthesia near the affected tooth and gums. If you have severe dental anxiety, they might also provide you with sedation to calm you. The affected tooth is isolated before starting the procedure to ensure it does not get contaminated by your saliva.
After your tooth and mouth are entirely numb, the dentist creates a tiny access hole in the crown of your tooth to expose the dental pulp. Next, the dentist removes the infected or inflamed dental pulp and the nerves from within the tooth. After cleaning and disinfecting the tooth and root canals, the dentist places a biocompatible rubber-like material called gutta-percha inside the tooth with adhesives. Finally, the access hole in the tooth’s crown also receives a temporary filling for protection during recovery, which requires approximately a week or ten days.
Eradication of the infection from within the tooth prevents numerous problems that might affect you if you refuse this endodontic therapy. The infection can spread to your neighboring teeth besides the jawbone creating additional complications that affect your overall health.
While helping preserve your natural tooth, root canal treatment renders it fragile and vulnerable to fractures. The dentist recommends that you have the tooth restored with a permanent filling or a dental crown after your recovery.
You may think a permanent filling will protect the tooth from additional damage. However, if you decide to invest in a high-quality dental crown, you help restore the tooth with a durable restoration that improves its appearance and functionality.
Which Treatment Must You Prefer?
If you are anxious about undergoing root canal therapy, you undoubtedly can prefer tooth extraction near you. However, do you realize what happens after getting a tooth removed? Firstly you have a gap in your mouth that impacts your appearance. Your remaining teeth begin drifting towards the vacant space to create a bad bite compelling you to seek tooth replacement solutions costing much more than root canals.
If you favor root canal treatment over-extraction, you benefit by preserving the natural tooth by eradicating the infection in your mouth and not risk further infections. Therefore you must prefer root canal treatment over extractions unless your tooth has suffered severe damage and requires removal as suggested by the dentist.
If you have severe pain in a specific tooth that has suffered decay or damage, kindly schedule an appointment with Knoxville Dental Associates to determine whether you need root canal therapy or extraction and decide appropriately.