Extraction vs. Root Canal: Which Should You Choose?

If you have a damaged tooth, you may automatically assume that you need to have it removed in order to prevent any long-term problems for your oral health. However, this is actually not typically the case. Instead, dentists usually do everything they can to perform a root canal in Waterbury. Both treatments have their own pros and cons, but more often than not, dentists recommend root canals over extraction for the following reasons.

It’s Always Best to Keep Your Natural Tooth

Modern tooth replacements like dental implants are incredibly effective at mimicking teeth in almost every single way. However, that does not mean they are necessarily better than your natural teeth. Rather, they are the next best option to a dental bridge or having no tooth at all. If dentists have the ability to help patients keep the tooth they were born with, they want to make sure every possible avenue is taken into consideration before an extraction is performed. Once it’s been done, it cannot be undone.

Root canals offer a fair compromise between placing a dental crown alone (which may not be enough to address the problem) and an extraction.

Advancements in Dentistry Make Restoration Easier

Dentistry of the past may have required dentists to extract teeth more often simply because they had no other options available to them. However, root canal therapy allows dentists to open small portions of the tooth and clear away decayed or dead tissue, then replace that tissue with filling material designed to prevent the risk of future infections.

Keep in mind that root canals are not meant to be a short-term solution for damaged teeth. In fact, they can keep a tooth healthy for decades following their completion. Even if a tooth requires retreatment, that same tooth can still remain healthy for a very long time, albeit less so if retreatment was needed due to new decay development.

When is an Extraction More Appropriate?

While the benefits of root canal therapy are quite apparent, there are instances where extraction of a tooth is a better option. For example, an extraction is typically performed when:

• A tooth is so damaged that no crown can effectively restore it
• Severe decay is at risk of infecting neighboring teeth
• The chances of a tooth failing following an additional root canal retreatment are too high

The dentist will be able to determine the best treatment to address your oral health needs at your appointment. Until then, if you’re experiencing dental discomfort, don’t put off visiting a dentist any longer. Get in touch with one today to determine the next best steps to protect your smile and your oral health!

About Waterbury Smiles

When you want an honest, compassionate, and knowledgeable team of dentists taking care of your smile, Waterbury Smiles is ready to serve you. They have decades of combined experience in restoring and saving teeth as well as offering modern solutions for tooth replacement if needed. They’ll go over your options in great detail, so you can make an informed decision on your care. To schedule an appointment, you can contact them through their website.