At Hill Country Oral surgery, our team strives to preserve natural teeth. No matter how perfectly the teeth replacement treatment is performed, it will never be as convenient as your pearly whites. That’s why our dentists insist on keeping them healthy through preventive dentistry and restorative treatments like fillings or crowns.
Unfortunately, sometimes teeth get compromised even after taking these precautions. General dentistry offers one last attempt to save severely damaged teeth, a dental procedure known as root canal treatment. But is it really worth your time and money undergoing this treatment? Does it fail in the long run? Isn’t it simpler to remove the tooth and have it replaced from the beginning? In this blog, we compare the two treatment alternatives to understand their benefits and drawbacks.
Root Canal Treatment
During a root canal treatment, your dentist removes the infection that develops within your tooth. When cavities aren’t treated on time, the bacteria invade the dental pulp, the inner soft tissue that keeps it alive, and the damage gets irreversible. This tissue is contained in several canals found inside the tooth’s roots (the “root canals”), and once it gets inflamed due to the action of bacteria, it cannot be saved. Dentists must remove the infected pulp from the canals and seal them with a biocompatible material to prevent reinfections.
Tooth Extraction
The other alternative to deal with severely compromised teeth is their permanent extraction. Through a minor oral surgery, your surgeon can remove the affected tooth and clean the area to promote proper healing. This option is more affordable and straightforward than receiving a root canal treatment. Still, patients need to consider that they will later need to receive further treatment to restore the missing tooth.
Which Treatment Should I Choose?
Well, the answer is entirely up to the individual. Or at least in most cases. On some occasions, the damage is so extensive, and so much tooth structure has been compromised that the patient doesn’t have a real choice. The surgeon needs to extract it and then present the patient with different replacement alternatives.
However, most patients get to choose how they deal with severely damaged teeth. When making this choice, discussing the pros and cons with your dentist is essential. Most oral health professionals would agree that it’s always better to try root canal therapy in the first place. After all, there is always time for dental extractions. But it is a fact that root canal therapy involves more chair time and costs more, so the decision will ultimately be in the patient hands.
Gentle Teeth Extractions in Austin, TX
Do you need a root canal treatment but aren’t sure it’s the best choice? Do you still have some questions about these procedures? Do not hesitate to contact us and schedule a consultation in our two locations. Our front office team will find you a slot to talk with one of our highly experienced oral surgeons at your earliest convenience!
