Oral health is crucial to your overall well-being, self-esteem, and appearance. Besides having a healthy mouth, you must also have healthy gums and teeth to prevent tooth decay and gum disease. Tooth decay is a rampant oral health issue many people face, especially children. It occurs when bacteria form plaque, a sticky layer on your teeth. Neglecting it can eventually damage your teeth’s surface.
Fortunately, thanks to modern dental advancements, you can remedy the problem quickly. And tooth extractions and root canal treatments are two popular treatment methods. However, these multiple choices usually confuse people in making the right decision.
This article will define the two treatments, why you need them, and their costs to help you make an informed decision.
Defining Tooth Extractions
Tooth extractions are usually the most straightforward and cost-effective cavity treatments. It’s a procedure where your dentist or oral surgeon removes the damaged tooth from the jaw bone, thus preventing the infection from spreading. They may administer local, general or intravenous anesthesia or a combination before the extraction.
While removing visibly damaged teeth is a simple procedure, broken teeth or those below the surface or impacted teeth need complex processes.
You must know that you can lose your teeth with extensive decay. However, it’s not always the best permanent solution since there’s no guarantee of the tooth’s health after the procedure. Other different methods can treat your damaged teeth.
Why Choose Tooth Extractions
A tooth extraction works best if you have an extremely decayed or infected tooth. It can also prevent complications from an infected tooth. Likewise, it can save you from root canal procedure risks.
Defining Root Canal Treatment
However, there will be times when you’ll need a more complex procedure, especially if you have a pulp infection. And a root canal works best for infected teeth. Your dentist will first remove the infected tissue in this procedure. Then they’ll drill into your infected tooth’s center to clean the pulp to replace it with a filling. Root canals work best if you want to save your damaged tooth without the stress and fear of getting anesthesia.
While the tooth may still function normally after the treatment, you must also consider that your tooth may still rot after the treatment, even if you don’t have any cavities.
Likewise, root canal procedures only apply to certain teeth: the more teeth that need treatment, the higher your dental bills.
Why Choose Root Canal Procedures
Root canal procedures work best if you have a few infected teeth needing treatment. It’s also an excellent choice if there isn’t much damage to your teeth. Proper root canal treatments and oral hygiene can be permanent solutions to help you live your everyday life.
Treatment Costs
And before you select the proper treatment, you must consider your budget and needs. And part of the budget is identifying the treatment costs of tooth extractions and root canal procedures. Tooth extractions usually cost less than root canal treatment, focusing on removing the problematic tooth. Your dentist will also require follow-ups and checkups.
On the other hand, root canal treatments are more expensive since your healthcare provider will replace the damaged tooth with a filling.
What’s The Right Choice
Ultimately, there’s no definite answer to this question because it depends on your needs and budget. Tooth extractions are a quick and affordable way to treat severely decaying teeth and save them from infection.
On the other hand, root canal procedures are more versatile methods to save your teeth and treat other mouth infections. It’s also an excellent choice to avoid tooth extraction complications.
A Pearlier Smile
Tooth decay is a common and uncomfortable problem for people of all ages, especially children. Fortunately, you can quickly remedy this issue thanks to modern dental advancements. Whether you need a tooth extraction or root canal, you must consider your needs and budget.
Sudbury Dental Arts offers general, cosmetic, and restorative dental services in Sudbury, Massachusetts. Request an appointment now and enjoy a shinier smile.
