Is It Better to Have a Root Canal or Extraction?
If you are experiencing tooth pain due to infection or decay, there are a few ways to address it. If antibiotics can be used to treat the infection and none of the tooth structures are damaged, you should recover within a few days. However, if the tooth nerve is damaged, you will need to decide between having a root canal or extraction. Both procedures can prevent the spread of infection and alleviate pain, but they differ in their approaches and will impact your oral health differently in the long run.
At The Bristol Dental Practice, our experienced team can guide you through the best treatment options for your specific circumstances and provide you with all the necessary knowledge to help you make an informed decision. So, if you are experiencing tooth pain and need an examination, please don’t hesitate to contact us today. However, if you’re wondering whether it’s better to have a root canal or extraction, keep reading to find out!
What Is the Difference Between a Root Canal and an Extraction?
Tooth extraction is a procedure that involves pulling out a tooth from its socket in the jawbone. This is usually a simple process that can be carried out under local anaesthetic. After the extraction, there will be an empty space where the tooth was. It’s essential to consider tooth replacement options, such as a dental implant or bridge, to fill this gap.
A root canal is a method that can save your painful tooth from being extracted. Our Endodontist, Dr Justin Underwood, will conduct the procedure under local anaesthetic, which involves removing the inflamed pulp from the inside of your tooth, cleaning the chamber to prevent any further infection, and filling it with a special material called ‘Gutta-Percha’. After this, a permanent filling or crown will be placed to seal the tooth. This will enable you to continue using your natural tooth just like before.
Both options are pain-free and will quickly ease your pain without requiring any recovery time.
Benefits & Limitations of a Root Canal
✔ Preservation of Tooth: A root canal can save a tooth that is severely decayed or infected, preventing the need for extraction.
✔ Pain Relief: Root canal treatment will quickly alleviate any pain that you’re feeling.
✔ Functionality: After a successful root canal, the tooth can continue to function normally.
✔ Aesthetics: It helps maintain the natural appearance of your smile by preserving the affected tooth.
✔ High Success Rate: Root canal treatment is a highly predictable procedure, with success rates ranging from 86% to 98% for saving natural teeth.
✘ Not Always Suitable: In some cases, such as severely fractured teeth or teeth with extensive decay that compromises the structural integrity of the tooth, root canal treatment may not be a viable option.
✘ Upfront Expense: Root canal treatment costs more upfront than a tooth extraction because it requires the expertise of an endodontist, as well as the costs of sealing the tooth with a filling or crown.
✘ Risk of Reinfection: If the tooth is not sealed properly or if there are additional canals that were not cleaned and filled during the initial procedure, reinfection can occur. However, this is very rare.
Benefits & Limitations of an Extraction
✔ Relief from Pain: Extraction can immediately alleviate pain caused by severe tooth decay, infection or trauma.
✔ Prevents Spread of Infection: Removing a severely infected tooth can prevent the infection from spreading to other teeth or to the surrounding gums and bone.
✔ Lower Upfront Cost: A tooth extraction is a simple dental procedure that typically costs less than a root canal.
✔ Prevents Damage to Adjacent Teeth: Extracting a severely damaged or decayed tooth can prevent it from causing damage to adjacent teeth.
✘ Loss of Functionality: Tooth extraction results in the loss of a natural tooth, which can affect your chewing and speaking abilities.
✘ Aesthetic Concerns: Extraction of a visible tooth, such as a front tooth, can affect the appearance of your smile and may require additional cosmetic procedures to restore aesthetics.
✘ Bone Resorption: After extraction, the bone in the area of the missing tooth may gradually shrink or resorb, which can affect the stability and appearance of the surrounding teeth and may complicate future dental procedures like dental implants. Bone loss can occur rapidly following a tooth extraction, sometimes in as little as six weeks.
✘ Higher Long-Term Cost: Retaining your natural teeth is more cost-effective in the long run despite the lower upfront cost of a tooth extraction. Tooth replacements and their upkeep can accumulate to a higher expense over time. Therefore, it may seem like tooth extraction is the more economical choice, but maintaining healthy natural teeth is the most budget-friendly option.
✘ Requires Replacement: If an extracted tooth is not replaced, it can lead to problems such as shifting of adjacent teeth, difficulty chewing, and changes in facial appearance.
How Do You Know Which Option to Choose?
You’re probably wondering which option is best for you. We suggest booking a consultation with one of our dental specialists in Bristol. During the consultation, our team will examine the affected tooth to determine which solution is best suited to your individual circumstances. In some cases, the decision may be out of your hands. However, we’ll ensure that you’re comfortable with the reasoning behind the decision and will discuss the next steps with you accordingly, whether it’s planning a root canal procedure or exploring tooth replacement options if extraction is necessary.
Final Thoughts
Is it better to have a root canal or extraction? Our Bristol dentists will always do their best to save a natural tooth whenever possible because of the long-term benefits for your overall health and well-being, as well as your ability to eat and speak comfortably. As such, if a root canal is a viable option, it will always be our preferred solution over an extraction.
However, we understand that it may not be possible for all our patients, and some may prefer to remove the tooth entirely. We advise you to carefully consider the benefits and limitations of both options, taking into account the short- and long-term outcomes of each treatment. Our goal is to do what is right for you while using our expert knowledge to ensure the best possible result for your smile.
Suffering from tooth pain? Book a consultation to see one of our team today:
Call Us: 0117 910 5929
Our Address: 1 Queen Square, Bristol BS1 4JQ