Root Canal vs. Extraction: Why Saving Your Natural Tooth is Better
Root CanalsWhen faced with a severely infected or damaged tooth, patients often ask: 'Why don't we just pull it?' It's a valid question. Extraction seems like a definitive, one-and-done solution.
However, in the world of dentistry, nothing beats your natural tooth. While implants are amazing, saving your own tooth through root canal therapy is almost always the superior choice for your long-term health and wallet.
1. Natural Function is Unmatched
Your natural tooth has a periodontal ligament that acts as a shock absorber, allowing you to sense how hard you are biting. Implants do not have this sensation. Keeping your natural tooth maintains your natural bite force and chewing efficiency.
2. Preventing Bone Loss
When a tooth is extracted, the jawbone that once supported it begins to shrink (resorb) because it is no longer stimulated. This can eventually change the shape of your face. Saving the tooth keeps the root in place, preserving your jawbone health.
3. Cost Effectiveness
Extraction is cheaper upfront than a root canal. But that's not the whole story. Once a tooth is gone, you need to replace it to prevent other teeth from shifting. An implant or bridge to replace the tooth will cost significantly more than the root canal and crown would have cost to save it.
4. Time and Convenience
A root canal and crown can usually be completed in 1-2 visits. An extraction followed by an implant is a multi-step surgical process that can take 4-8 months to complete due to healing times.
When IS Extraction Necessary?
While saving the tooth is the goal, sometimes it isn't possible. Extraction is the right choice if:
- The tooth has a vertical fracture that goes below the gumline.
- There is insufficient bone support due to severe gum disease.
- The damage is too extensive to be restored with a crown.