There may come a time when you will need to make a decision as to whether to have a root canal treatment or remove the damaged tooth entirely.
4 Reasons Why Tooth extraction may be Required
Damaged beyond repair
If the tooth’s structure is too damaged, there may not be enough tooth structure left for stability or use even after a root canal repair.
The cavity is too large
If the tooth has begun to rot this will make the cavity bigger. If it is too large, it may not be strong enough for root canal treatment.
There is a massive infection
If your tooth has such a large infection that can only be removed by removing the tooth itself, then an extraction is necessary.
Lack of boney support
Gum disease can cause shrinkage of the boney support for the tooth, whereby it becomes loose and requires extraction
4 Reasons why a root canal may be a good option
It keeps the correct number of teeth in your mouth
An adult human who still has all their teeth will have 32 permanent teeth made up of 8 incisors, 4 cuspids (canines), 8 bicuspids (premolars), 12 molars, and 4 wisdom teeth.
If one tooth is missing it puts greater stress on those remaining. This is one of the reasons why dentists would prefer to do a root canal treatment rather than an extraction.
Keeps your remaining teeth straight
While your other teeth do adjust, they can become crooked and develop spaces between each other.
Preserves the health of your jaw and face
Not having all your teeth can cause bone loss in your jaw and cause your facial muscles to collapse as they no longer have the scaffolding they need.
Keeps your smile looking beautiful
Visible gaps in your smile isn’t a great look.
4 Pros and Cons of tooth extraction vs root canal treatment
Time
Unlike tooth extraction, root canal treatment can take a couple of hours and usually involves a number of appointments. It all depends on the state of the tooth.
Cost
A root canal treatment is more costly than an extraction. If the root canal treatment isn’t a success or the tooth breaks, an extraction may be required anyway.
Pain level
Both operations are done under local anaesthetic and should be pain-free.
Complications
If a tooth breaks during a root canal treatment, an extraction may be the only solution.
Tooth Extractions are more vulnerable to post-operative infection. You can’t eat solids for a few days after an extraction.
The crown that is applied to the tooth after a root canal treatment can add cost. If it is not treated with care it can break if you have an accident, or grind your teeth.
There’s a lot to consider.
If you’re not sure which option is right for you, contact us on 0508 TEAM DENTAL
Make an appointment today and make sure your teeth have the best care available!
