You have a painful, throbbing toothache, so you schedule a consultation with an emergency dentist. Before your appointment, you may have some fears about the treatment you’ll undergo. Many people dislike the idea of root canal therapy, but it has the potential to preserve a damaged tooth. An extraction may be quicker, but perhaps you dread the idea of having an incomplete smile. Which treatment is better? Let’s discuss some facts about root canal vs. extraction.
How They Work
Severe toothaches are often the result of an infection or damage in a tooth’s interior chamber, its pulp. The infection irritates the nerve in the tooth, which in turn sends massive pain signals to your brain. An extraction effectively handles the problem by removing the offending tooth altogether.
Root canal therapy, on the other hand, preserves the tooth but not its nerve. During the procedure, a dentist removes the damaged tissue and the tooth’s nerve. Then, they fill in the tooth with a special material and seal it. It is worth noting that, contrary to popular opinion, root canal therapy is not a painful treatment. Most patients feel little to nothing during the procedure.
Risks and Disadvantages
No dental or medical procedure is entirely without risk. Risks of a root canal include:
- If a significant amount of bacteria gets left behind in the tooth, you may need endodontic retreatment down the road. This is quite rare.
- A tooth is more vulnerable to fracture after a root canal. Getting a crown to protect the tooth can virtually eliminate this issue.
- Some groups claim that a root canal can cause systemic illness. However, evidence to that effect is questionable.
Risks of a tooth extraction include:
- The bone that once supported the tooth will begin to deteriorate.
- Adjacent teeth may drift out of place and lead to a misaligned bite.
- The risk of future tooth loss increases.
Cost
A tooth extraction presents a lower upfront cost than root canal therapy. However, in order to preserve your jawbone and prevent dental drift, you should consider getting a dental implant after an extraction. Implants are an excellent treatment, but they can cost a significant amount of money. Because root canal therapy preserves your natural tooth, it eliminates the need for future tooth replacement and can actually save you money in the long run.
Which Is Better?
In most cases, root canal therapy is the best way to treat an infected or damaged tooth. However, there are exceptions, such as if the tooth has suffered extreme damage. Your dentist will carefully analyze your oral health before making a treatment recommendation.
About the Author
Dr. Keyvan Kar is an emergency dentist and prosthodontist in Allen. He is a graduate of the University of Cologne School of Dentistry in Germany and of the prosthodontics program from the Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry at the University of Southern California. He offers a broad range of treatments, including root canal therapy, crowns, extractions, and dental implants. To learn more about him and his expertise, contact our team at 214-260-9911.