Avoiding Dental Extractions With Root Canals

When you have tooth problems, such as decay or dental trauma, you might worry that you’ll need to have your teeth removed and have veneers, implants, or bridges inserted. While these can replace natural teeth, they won’t feel or function the same. Fortunately, you might not need a tooth extraction done after all. Root canals can provide treatment that allows you to save your natural teeth instead of having them taken out. The following information can help you understand why a root canal offers the best option for saving your natural teeth.

Types of Tooth Problems

What kinds of tooth problems might be solved with a root canal rather than having a tooth pulled and replaced with a dental implant or bridge? In some cases, a root canal might offer more suitable treatment for dental trauma, inflammation, or infections. Root canals can often be used to treat dental trauma, such as dislodged teeth, chipped teeth, fractured teeth, root fractures, or knocked-out teeth.

You might also be able to have a root canal done when you have a tooth infection or inflammation. Root canals remove the infected material from your tooth before it can become worse or spread to other areas. Your tooth is then closed up to stop bacteria from getting in and causing additional infections or more inflammation. This helps restore your tooth’s normal functionality and eliminates pain and other symptoms. Having this kind of procedure done instead of a tooth extraction can also help your tooth stay healthy.

Benefits of Saving Natural Teeth

Saving your natural teeth instead of having them pulled offers important benefits, whether or not the affected are visible. Natural teeth in the front of your mouth can affect your smile and appearance. Saving these teeth instead of having them extracted and replaced with artificial teeth can help you feel less self-conscious. When you have a root canal done rather than an extraction, this also helps ensure that you won’t have issues with eating or speaking. Losing teeth in certain parts of your mouth can make chewing and talking harder.

Saving your natural teeth might help reduce your risk of needing additional dental procedures done as well. For example, dental veneers and bridges can become damaged over time. If this happens, you might need to have them replaced. With root canals, you can make sure your natural teeth are treated, so that they can remain healthy and have a lower risk of infection or decay. When you have root canals done to save natural teeth instead of dental extractions, this can also lower your risk of complications.

Tooth Extractions vs. Root Canals

When you see your dentist for a tooth infection, trauma, or other tooth problems, keep in mind that a root canal might be a treatment option. If your dentist recommends having teeth extracted, you should ask about root canals. Talk to your dentist about whether or not a root canal might be a better treatment option for your tooth problems. Let your dentist know that you’re interested in saving your natural teeth. Your dentist can suggest seeing an endodontist for root canal treatment.

Although some dentists are able to perform root canals, you should go to an endodontist for this type of procedure instead. Endodontists specialize in performing root canals and other procedures that involve treating the inner parts of teeth, such as a pulpotomy and pulpectomy.

Preventing Root Canals and Tooth Extractions

Taking steps to keep your teeth healthy can help you reduce your risk of needing to have a root canal or tooth extraction done. Practicing good oral hygiene is among the most effective ways to maintain healthy teeth and prevent tooth decay. This includes brushing your teeth at least twice a day and flossing every day. Brushing your teeth helps them stay clean and free of food particles that attract bacteria and lead to decay. Flossing removes food particles from between your teeth and along your gum line, which helps lower your risk of gum disease and tooth decay.

Having regular dental check-ups done is another effective way to protect your teeth and lower your risk of root canals and tooth extractions. These check-ups include a thorough cleaning that eliminates plaque and tartar from your teeth, which reduces the risk of tooth decay and other dental problems. Your dentist can look for early warning signs of tooth decay or other problems during these visits as well. Having these dental problems treated as early as possible can help prevent severe damage that requires endodontic treatment or tooth extractions. You should have regular dental check-ups done twice a year.

If you have tooth problems that a root canal might help with, please contact Largo Endodontics for an appointment. Dr. Ernest Rillman, our endodontist, can determine if a root canal can be done instead of a dental extraction.