The common decision made by patients is to have their tooth extracted if there is an emergency concern. However, going with this approach overlooks the benefits of not doing so. Not sure what we mean? Keep reading on.
During a normal check-up and clean appointment, the dentist identifies that a tooth or a set of teeth are in poor condition and further treatment is required to restore its health. Typically, if a tooth is in poor condition it will be due to the following:
- A tooth is severely decayed
- A tooth has been chipped or cracked
- Teeth are overcrowded
- Teeth are impacted due to an abnormal bite
- Trauma from a physical accident
- Impact on chewing ability
What’s The Difference?
When the dentist identifies one of these common problems, the next thing is to determine the best form of treatment. However, the dentist will always look to save as much of the natural tooth as possible every time.
It is very important that you understand the difference between the two dentistry treatment choices. A root canal will be administered if the dentist identifies that a tooth has not been severely damaged or decayed and can identify remains of the tooth that is healthy. Also, the dentist will examine the bone density and gum support around the tooth. Where it is safe to save the health remains of a tooth, a root canal is the best choice.
Root canal treatment involves removing the infected bacteria (or pulp) from the affected area, and the inside of the tooth is disinfected, cleaned and sealed. This is to avoid the tooth from becoming further infected. You should be careful about when and what to eat after the root canal treatment. Further information on root canal treatment can be found by clicking at Root Canal Treatment.
Tooth extraction works exactly the opposite. The dentist will identify if the tooth is severely decayed beyond repair and the surrounding gum and bone density is weak. In this instance, tooth extraction treatment will be the best choice. Under local anaesthesia, the dentist will numb any pain you’re experiencing. Then, the dentist will widen the tooth socket and use forceps to gently rock the tooth from side to side until it’s removed from its socket. The pain may feel severe once the anaesthesia wears off. The dentist will provide a gauze pad to bite down on to limit any bleeding once the tooth is removed. You can read about bone loss.
Final Points
Neither treatment is pleasant. However, when a tooth has suffered an extensive amount of damage, a root canal will always be the first choice unless it is deemed necessary to remove the tooth due to the severity of the damage. You can read to learn how teeth decay so you can take steps to keep your oral hygiene habits strong. The dentist will be best placed to recommend the best form of treatment. Be rest assured, your oral health will be in capable hands.
Have you had an accident that has caused a dental concern? Are you experiencing severe dental pain? Contact us at Simply Dental Chatswood now and leave your oral health in the capable hands of our experienced friendly dentists.