If you have a tooth that is severely infected, antibiotics and waiting for the infection to heal on its own won’t do you any good. The only way to repair an infected tooth is with a root canal. Though this procedure has a success rate of around 95%, there is a ton of misinformation about the treatment that’s spread throughout the years. In fact, some people have even been led to believe that they might develop cancer after undergoing root canal therapy. But do root canals cause cancer, or is this a myth? Read on to learn more about how the procedure works and if it puts you at risk of developing cancer. 

Odds are that if you’re googling “root canal vs tooth extraction,” you’re in a fair amount of pain. In that condition, it can be a little bit difficult to make decisions about what’s best for your oral health.

For serious toothaches caused by infected pulp, there are two common options: a root canal and an extraction. Here’s how to decide which one would be best for you.