The root canal and tooth extraction are procedures dentists use to eliminate infected teeth. Choosing between them is a difficult decision for the patients. The main issue lies in unawareness of the benefits and drawbacks of each. As an experienced dentist, I typically recommend the appropriate treatment based on the extent of the tooth damage. When the teeth can be saved with the treatment I go for a root canal while tooth extraction is done in case of a completely damaged tooth surface. Patients usually consider tooth extraction affordable and pain more than the root canal. But it is not necessarily true, a root canal is also an effective procedure to save the tooth. 

As an expert dentist, I will help you to make an informed decision. In this blog, I will discuss the risks, costs, and treatment of both these procedures to choose the appropriate one. 

Root Canal

A root canal is a dental treatment used to treat tooth infections. The pulp of the infected tooth is removed, and the tooth interior is cleaned to prevent further damage. Usually, the root canal is painless. Endodontists around the United States perform 15 million root canals every year. On average, root canal treatment costs $800 to $1,500 per tooth in dental clinics, depending on the complexity of the procedure.  

DailySmiles offers expert endodontic care with highly trained dentists specialized in treating the inner parts of the tooth.

Signs you need the root canal

 The patient requires the tooth canal when the tooth is infected. I suggest the patient visit the dentist for monthly checkups. If you feel any kind of hurting sensation you should consult the dentist. The symptoms that patients usually face include. 

• Tooth pain while eating hot and cold
• Pressure hurts while biting and chewing  
• Swollen gums
• Swollen jaw 
• Discolored tooth
• Loose tooth

Root Canal Treatment

Before starting the treatment the endodontist takes the X-ray of the affected tooth. Some tests are done to monitor the interior condition of the tooth for the proper treatment. The dentist checks the sensitivity by tapping the tooth with a cold or hot substance. The electric pulp test (EPT) is done through a device with an electric current to check if your tooth pulp reacts. The endodontists check the swelling in the gums and bone around your tooth and ask for hurt during eating. 

During the treatment, the inflamed pulp is removed and the dentist cleans the tooth interior and fills it to seal. 

Steps of root canal

I suggest root canal therapy is more effective for patients. The therapy process is straightforward. The steps include.

• Anesthesia is given to numb the patient’s infected tooth. In case of pain or any dental anxiety, the endodontist provides extra medication to make you drowsy, and more relaxed. 
• The dental dam is a small rubber put around the infected tooth gums to keep your mouth dry during the treatment.
•  The endodontist drills the small hole and uses the instruments to remove the small nerves and blood vessels in the tooth pulp. 
• Once the pulp is cleaned the empty pulp is filled and the root canal with the gutta-percha( a rubbery dental material).
• This dental filling is temporary and prevents the tooth from bacteria. The dentist places a dental crown on the treated tooth.

Recovery of Root canal 

I prescribe the patients to take some precautions to get the recovery. 

• Avoid biting the hard food
• Take painkillers to relieve pain
• Keep your mouth clean
• Avoid sugary items 
• Avoid smoking 
• Consult your endodontist in case of any discomfort

Pros and Cons of Root Canal

Pros of root canal 

The root canal completely cleans your tooth and removes the infected particles. It is considered costly but more effective.

• Infection prevention and control
• Cost savings
• Relief pain
• Improved oral health
• Secure the other teeth from infection
• Prevents jawbone degeneration

Cons of root canal

Sometimes, a tooth is so damaged that a root canal cannot fix it. The whole damaged structure can not solve your problem. At that point, you can re-treat your infected tooth, or the dentist should extract the teeth.

Tooth Extraction

Tooth extraction is the process of extracting the tooth from the gum socket. The dentist, an oral surgeon, or a periodontist performs the tooth extraction. Tooth extraction is a sensitive treatment that requires attention. The average cost of simple tooth extraction in general clinics is around $75 and $200 while in case of any complexity, it may cost $800 and $4,000.

When to recommend tooth extraction

I recommend that patients go for a tooth extraction when the tooth is damaged badly and necessary to remove. If your root canal fails you should consult your doctor again for tooth extraction. 

The dentist usually recommends extraction with these symptoms.

• Complete tooth decay 
• Crowded teeth
• Gum disease
• Dental injuries
• fractured tooth

Procedure of Tooth Extraction 

The tooth extraction treatment depends on the condition of your tooth. It may involve removing one or more teeth. A simple extraction involves the steps.

• Your periodontist injects the local anesthesia to numb the area around the tooth.
• The elevator will be used to detach the tooth from the gum. 
• The forceps are placed around the tooth to pull it from the gum.  

In the case of surgical complex tooth extraction

• The sedation and anesthesia are given to the patient for sleep and pain relief. 
• The surgeon cuts gum tissue around the infected tooth and removes the surrounding bone. Forceps are used to remove the tooth, in case of any difficulty the tooth is broken for ease in surgery.

Disadvantages of Tooth Extraction

Make sure to get the checkup from the dentist and go for the tooth extraction with the dentist’s recommendation. Extraction of the infected tooth prevents the others from damage. However, it has some disadvantages including 

• Dry socket
• Nerve injury
• Late healing
• Swelling at the surgical site
• Vomiting and nausea
• Tooth bleeding

Recovery of Extraction 

The recovery period depends on the complexity of the tooth extraction. Some people heal in a few days while others may take a few weeks to recover.  The dental implant usually takes months to recover. Here are some aftercare of tooth extraction I recommend to my patients.

• Skip the hard exercise
• Take the medicines according to your dentist’s prescription
• Eat the soft items and gently brush your teeth to clean the extraction

Root Canal vs Tooth Extraction

Root canal or endodontic therapy is a tooth treatment used to save damaged teeth when they become infected. This procedure includes cleaning, disinfecting, and sealing the cavity. Root canal treatment is more expensive than tooth extraction but if you want to be with natural teeth structure then bear the expenses.  

In the case of tooth extraction, when your dentist is unable to save your teeth, remove it completely. Most doctors recommend root canal therapy as it maintains natural teeth but if the infection is severe tooth extraction needs to be done.

FAQs

Which is better: a root canal or tooth extraction?

The root canal usually costs more than the extraction. However, it is more effective for comfort, and pain relief and takes less time to complete. Tooth extraction is a less costly and attractive option. But in experts’ opinion, the root canal is better. The treatment of your infected tooth depends on the dentist’s recommendation. You should go for the one according to your dentist’s prescription. 

What takes longer to heal a root canal or extraction?

Tooth extraction is more painful and has a longer recovery period compared to a root canal. Since extraction involves removing the tooth from the gum, it requires more time to heal fully. While root canal treatment is about cleaning the infected tooth.

Is a root canal more painful than an extraction?

According to the expert opinion, the patients of root canal treatment describe it as 6 times less painful than the tooth extraction patients. Tooth extraction is about removing the tooth from the gum with proper surgery.