Although a root canal and tooth extraction may seem like daunting procedures, you may be one of the thousands of adults needing these dental services this year. Our team at Dental Specialty Associates performs these procedures every day in order to fix teeth that are causing pain and discomfort. To educate you about the procedures and help you determine which is right for you, here are some common questions we get from our patients in both Gilbert and Phoenix.
What Happens During Root Canal Vs Extraction?
During root canals, our team works to remove the damaged and decaying parts of your tooth while keeping the healthy sections of your tooth intact. Your pain is caused by damage and decay going down to the root of your tooth where your nerves are located. Once this is removed and disinfected, it’s sealed and a crown is fitted over the remainder of your healthy tooth to protect it from further disease and damage?
On their own, tooth extractions aren’t quite as extensive as root canals as we simply remove your entire tooth. However, we strongly recommend a dental implant or bridge to feel the gap from your missing tooth as this can help prevent future problems.
What Are The Benefits & Drawbacks To A Root Canal?
The ability to keep your natural tooth is the primary benefit to root canals. While the unhealthy portion of your tooth is removed and covered with a crown, hanging on to the healthy portion of your natural tooth helps protect your overall oral health and your smile alignment. Root canals also require less time as all items can be accomplished in one day due to our ability to create crowns in our office during your procedure.
One of the major drawbacks to root canals is that they are not right for everyone. Your tooth may be too damaged, decayed or unhealthy to be able to save it. Root canals are also pricey when compared to extraction costs. Root canals can easily cost more than $1,000 while pulling a tooth is often under $500. However, you should be aware that this is just the extraction cost. If you need a dental implant or false tooth to fill the gap from your extraction, it can end up costing more than a root canal depending on what you choose to replace it.
What Are The Benefits & Drawbacks To A Tooth Extraction?
The amount of time you spend at the dentist office getting your tooth extracted is significantly less than the alternative procedure. However, this is just for the extraction procedure as getting a dental implant to replace your missing tooth requires additional appointments. If you don’t have dental insurance or the funds to pay for a root canal, extraction of a tooth is a much more affordable option. For a few hundred dollars you can be free of the tooth and the pain it’s causing you in your mouth.
The drawback to having an extraction done on your tooth is that it creates a gap in your mouth. This can make it more of a challenge to talk or chew depending on where the gap is located in your mouth. It can also cause the other teeth in your mouth to shift thus taking your smile out of alignment. This is why it is highly recommended that you fill the gap with an implant if you choose teeth extraction over root canals.
Root Canal vs Tooth Extraction: Which Option Is Better?
While you probably want us to provide you with a direct answer to this question, the truth is that the right option can vary from one patient to another. While root canal procedures might be the right option for some patients, the oral health and needs of other patients make them more suitable for tooth extraction. The best thing you can do to determine which one is right for you is to schedule a consultation appointment with our team at Dental Specialty Associates.
With offices in both Gilbert and Phoenix, we are located nearby to accommodate your dental needs, especially when emergency root canals or extractions are needed. We’re happy to meet with you to discuss both types of procedures and help you determine based on your pain and overall oral health which option is best for you. Give us a call at Dental Specialty Associates today! You’ll be all smiles after we eliminate the cause of your pain and restore your oral health.
