Root canal treatment is generally preferred over a tooth extraction because it allows patients to keep their natural teeth and maintain their natural smiles. It is also a simple procedure that is almost always successful and results in only minor post-surgery pain.
In most cases, root canal therapy is a better way to treat an infected tooth than an extraction. 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.
It allows you to keep your natural tooth, which is almost always preferred over removing it. A root canal entails taking out the infected nerve tissue of the tooth in the pulp or center, which means that you will no longer be able to feel pain.
If the deepest layers of the pulp become infected, it may be too late to save the tooth. In addition, if a large portion of the tooth is lost and a crown cannot be placed on what's left, root canal treatment is no longer a viable solution.
When you delay a root canal, you risk unnecessary bacteria growing around the nerve tissue. Left untreated, several complications are likely to occur. Systemic inflammation – when an infected tooth causes inflammation to spread throughout the body.
Not a good idea. Waiting to have one of your damaged teeth treated can result in ultimately losing the tooth. Root canals are performed as a last resort treatment option, a necessary procedure to ensure that your tooth is saved vs. losing it forever.
After you undergo a tooth extraction, you will need to replace the missing tooth or teeth. If the teeth are not replaced, the bones in your mouth can weaken and lose density. Other teeth also might shift, and you might experience trouble eating. Fortunately, you have several replacement options for missing teeth.
If your tooth is damaged, but enough of the tooth structure is healthy, your dentist can save your tooth. It will need treatment, but since your natural teeth are sturdier than options like a bridge or dentures, most dentists will opt to save your tooth over extracting it where possible.
Also, patients might need two to three visits to get root canals on upper first molars. Upper first molars have three to five root canals, and each one must be treated, which takes longer to complete. Root canals can also cause discomfort to the mouth and jaw, as they will have to remain open the entire procedure.
Your dentist may recommend a root canal when your tooth shows signs of infection or significant pulpal nerve damage. When a tooth is cracked or has a significant cavity, bacteria is able to enter the pulp, and if left untreated, can lead to serious infection, bone loss, or the loss of the tooth itself.
What is the most difficult tooth to extract? Impacted wisdom teeth are wisdom teeth that have failed to erupt properly. They are generally considered to be the most difficult teeth to extract. The higher the degree of impaction, the more difficult the extraction.
Endodontists, specialists in root canals, have the advanced training and specialized equipment to perform an apicoectomy. With their expertise, they may be able to save your tooth with this specialized procedure when a root canal treatment won't work.
Alternatives treatment options
The only alternative to a root canal treatment is to remove (extract) the tooth from the mouth. If the tooth is removed, you will need to pay for further treatment to have the missing tooth replaced in the mouth.
The short answer is no, a tooth that needs a root canal cannot heal itself naturally. The long answer is fairly straightforward. The infected tissue inside a tooth cannot heal by itself and will only get worse over time if left untreated. Even if you experience no pain, you should still seek treatment.
You may need to have a tooth extracted if: Periodontal disease has badly infected the tooth. The tooth is badly damaged and cannot be restored by a filling or a crown. You are suffering from pain even after a filling, crown, or treatment for a root canal.
The nerve endings that cause pain in infected teeth are in the teeth themselves. These are essentially severed as soon as the doctor begins the extraction process, before they've even pulled the tooth all the way out of the socket.
Many people think of tooth extraction as a painful and anxiety-provoking experience. However, if you are living with pain in your mouth from a tooth, having that tooth pulled will not only be a sweet relief from the pain, but it can even help to prevent other problems from arising for your oral health in the future.
If too much time has passed since the tooth was extracted and the gum tissue has shrunken, it may not be possible to place dental implants immediately. However, with advances in dental technology, it is now possible for implant dentists to place implants even after many years have passed since the tooth was lost.
If not treated immediately, this can lead to dental infections, among other oral health and systemic problems. The second reason tooth fragments are left behind is that the leftover root fragment is located near a nerve. Sometimes teeth are closely associated with nerves that run through our jawbone.
Can I give patients their teeth after they have been extracted? Yes, you may return extracted teeth to patients upon request.
You must undergo a root canal within a few weeks to fully eliminate the infection and save your tooth. In general, a root canal typically takes about two hours to complete, but it can require subsequent visits depending on the severity of the damage.
If you wait to have a root canal, you're only providing that infection more time to gain strength and spread. Infection can spread from the tooth into the bloodstream, and then you have a much more serious issue than a common and routine dental practice.
For example, certain general dentists will do their own root canals on anterior or bicuspid teeth, because these teeth are easier to access and only have one or two roots. However, with a molar tooth, these are far back in the patient's mouth giving the dentist limited access and have 3 to 4 canals.