Root Canal Or Tooth Extraction: Which Do I Need?

If you’ve got a painful tooth in Redmond, you may be wondering if you need to get a root canal, or if you’re better off having your tooth extracted and replaced. What’s the better option, and what’s suitable for your case? In this blog post from Redmond Art of Dentistry, we’ll look at both root canals and tooth extractions, and discuss when and why they're used to protect your oral health.

Root Canals Are The Best Way To Save Damaged Teeth

Root canals involve opening up your tooth, extracting any damaged or infected tissue, then covering up your tooth with a filling or a dental crown. They are almost always the best option for restoring a damaged tooth. Root canal therapy may be recommended in a number of situations:

• Treating an infected tooth – If a tooth has a deep filling, it may become infected. This happens when bacteria attacks the vulnerable “pulp” that keeps the tooth alive.
  
  
• Restoring a tooth after failed dental work – A root canal may be necessary if a piece of dental work, such as a crown or filling, fails. If this happens, the tooth may become damaged and infected. Root canals can be used to repair it and restore your oral health.
  
  
• Repairing trauma to a tooth – Root canals are often recommended after oral trauma, such as an accident that breaks or cracks your tooth. A root canal can prevent or treat a tooth infection after dental trauma. 
  

Tooth Extractions Are A Last Resort If A Root Canal Fails Or Is Not Appropriate

Tooth extractions may sometimes be an option if you have a damaged tooth. However, they are never the first choice for restoring your tooth. Preserving your original tooth is always a better option, and there are a few reasons for this.

First, repairing your existing tooth is a simpler and less invasive process. Root canals are simple and minimally invasive, especially when compared to extracting a tooth. This also means that a root canal is usually more affordable.

This is especially true when you consider the cost of replacing a tooth. After your tooth extraction, you must replace your missing tooth with a partial denture, a dental bridge, or a dental implant. These treatments are much more complex and expensive compared to simply repairing your existing tooth.

If your tooth is severely damaged, multiple root canals have failed, or Dr. Bickel believes that a root canal simply isn’t a good choice, he may recommend an extraction. But this is rare. In most cases, it’s completely possible to save your tooth with root canal therapy.

Find Out What Treatment Is Right For You At Redmond Art of Dentistry 

Ultimately, only a dentist can decide whether you should get a root canal or a tooth extraction. So the best way to find out is to schedule an appointment with Dr. Daniel Bickel at Redmond Art of Dentistry. 

As a conservative dentist, Dr. Bickel will only recommend an extraction if it’s truly the best option, and will do everything he can to preserve your natural tooth and restore your oral health. So don’t wait. The sooner you get help, the better your outcome will be. Contact us online or give us a call at (425) 883-1331.