Tooth decay is one of the most critical dental problems that could cause intense pain and discomfort. It is a common dental emergency that requires immediate attention to avoid further complications. Depending on your tooth decay severity, your dentist might need you to undergo an emergency dental treatment, particularly root canal or extraction. These procedures are your most reliable solutions to prevent the spread of infection.
If you wonder whether to go for a root canal or extraction, this article will help you identify the differences between the two.
Tooth Decay: An Overview
Bacteria build-up and plaque formation due to poor oral hygiene are the only reasons why a person develops tooth decay. Our teeth consist of soft cavities in their core which allows us to be prone to infections. When someone who has tooth decay delays their treatment, there is a higher chance that the condition will continue to spread and can cause further damages. The decay will start to reach the roots of their teeth and gum tissues, severely affecting their overall health.
Several treatment procedures are necessary to prevent tooth decay from affecting the surrounding teeth. Below are some facts that can help you decide whether to choose root canal therapy or tooth extraction.
The Root Canal Therapy
A root canal therapy is a dental procedure that your dentist will perform to cleanse the infection that reaches your teeth’ roots. It is a slightly invasive surgery that involves the removal of pulp and dead tissues to restore your natural tooth.
, the dentist will remove your tooth pulp and clean out the remaining chambers. This step makes sure that the dentist will leave no traces of bacteria. Afterwards, a replacement liquid fills up these chambers to act as the pulp. Recovery after a root canal procedure only takes days to weeks. You might feel slight pinches of pain after the treatment, but some over-the-counter medications will be able to ease the discomfort.
However, your dentist will suggest root canal therapy only if there is a high possibility of regaining your teeth’ function. When your current dental situation causes you to develop deep-seated bacteria that affect the surface far below your tooth’s pulp, it might already be too late to perform a root canal therapy.
The Tooth Extraction Process
If the dental decay is too intense that even a root canal cannot fix it, your dentist will suggest a tooth extraction procedure. Tooth extraction is necessary to avoid severe damages to the gum tissue and bone degeneration.
When bacteria are present throughout the structure of your teeth, it has already come to the point where it won’t survive even with a root canal. Your dentist will carefully extract the affected tooth out of its socket to lower the chances of bacteria continuing to spread. You may experience light bleeding and swelling after the procedure, which could last for a few days.
During your recovery, it would be best to stick with foods that are easy to chew. Immediately eating hard foods can expose your gums to external conditions that could delay the recovery process. As you continue to heal, you can notice some visible changes in your dental structure.
Once the recovery finishes, you can expect a slight discomfort over the area where the tooth extraction took place. These problems come naturally as the remaining teeth will start to fill the gaps from the missing teeth. If you want to maintain a healthy smile, there are several tooth replacement options available.
A dental implant is one of the most common dental restoration procedures that can help solve tooth extraction issues. It can serve as a natural tooth replacement and functions similarly as your teeth would before the extraction. If a dental implant does not seem right for you, there are other treatment options, such as dental bridges and partial dentures. It is not advisable to delay the treatment process in replacing your missing teeth. It would be best to consider several consequences, such as reducing gum strength and jawbone density loss.
So, Which Dental Procedure Should I Choose?
Whether you go for root canal therapy or tooth extraction ultimately lies among your tooth decay status. Ideally, dentists will prefer root canal therapy to help save your natural tooth. However, tooth extraction is entirely unavoidable in very bad cases.
Both dental treatments have their respective pros and cons. It would be best to talk to your dental care provider regarding which procedure would best suit your current oral health needs. If you have a decaying tooth or know someone who does, we suggest avoiding wasting time and call your dentist immediately. A dental infection can quickly spread, which lowers your chances of saving your natural tooth. Early detection and treatment are essential during these times.
Contact our Norwest clinic
Are you looking for a dental clinic in Norwest? Here at Dentistry on Solent, we guarantee to provide you a holistic and personalised treatment perfect for your dental care needs. We offer a wide range of dental services in Baulkham Hills that will help you achieve the confidence of having a healthy smile. Our team also provides out-of-hours dental services for your emergency appointments.
Please don’t hesitate to talk to our dentist to get the best treatment options. You can also browse through our website for more information.
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