Root Canal Vs. Extraction: Which Is Right For You?

The decision is not always simple, particularly when the chances of success with root canal therapy are not very high. In this guide, we’re going to explore each procedure in more detail and look at some of the factors that might influence you to choose one over the other.

What is a root canal?

When your tooth is badly decayed and the infection has spread to the soft pulp in the centre of the tooth, you will be in considerable pain. The best way to remedy this is with root canal treatment.

During this procedure, your dentist will remove the damaged and infected portion of the tooth and then clean out the root canals. These are then filled to strengthen the tooth and then capped with a filling or a crown.

It’s commonly used as a last resort to help save a tooth before extraction is the only option. Unfortunately, root canal treatment has a bad reputation for being a painful procedure. For this reason, many patients will be too scared of this option to consider moving forward.

A root canal will also be more expensive than an extraction, and this could influence a patient’s decision-making process.

What is an extraction?

Another option for dealing with a badly decayed or damaged tooth is to extract it. During this procedure, the dentist rocks the tooth in its socket until it becomes loose enough to remove. If the tooth is very badly damaged, it might come out in parts. If any roots are left behind, they may need to be surgically removed.

While this might be a fast and effective way to deal with dental pain, it could cause long-term problems because it leaves gaps in your teeth. Gaps can allow your remaining teeth to shift. It could also cause your jaw bone to shrink, which could leave the tooth roots of surrounding teeth exposed.

Which is the right choice for you?

We will nearly always recommend a root canal if there is a good chance the tooth can be saved. Preserving your natural teeth should always be a priority, but we recognise there may be times when an extraction is the better choice.

This could be the case if the tooth is also badly weakened as a result of the decay. In this case, there is a good chance the root canal would fail. If it seems that an extraction will be inevitable, then it might be better to go straight to this choice.

Budget is also a consideration. A root canal will be more expensive than an extraction, particularly if you also need a crown to restore your tooth. However, the long term costs associated with restoring a missing tooth should also be taken into consideration.

And finally, patients might also be concerned about the duration of the treatment. Root canal therapy will last the longest, whereas an extraction could be completed very quickly. If you are very nervous about treatment, this could influence your decision.

However, we recommend speaking to your dentist if you are allowing fear to shape your choices. There may be something we can do to help put you at ease so that you can get the treatment that you really want.

Ready to take the next steps?

If you have a damaged tooth and you think you need a root canal, get in touch with our team today to start creating your treatment plan.