Most people say having a toothache is one of the worst pains you can experience. There may be worse pains, but when you have an aching tooth, it sure does stop your world.
You have seething pain in your mouth, it’s hard to swallow, and it hurts when your tongue or food touches that sore tooth. We all want to avoid this; thus, regularly visiting the dentist should be a staple for our oral health care.
Sadly, dental visits are often done when it’s too late. When a dead tooth or an infection deep in the gums and roots of a tooth is making you hurt, you know you’re in big trouble. The treatment won’t be pleasant and may take a while to finish.
Even though pulling out the tooth is the easiest solution to end your pain quickly, root canal treatment is sometimes better.
Let’s look at three reasons a root canal is better than getting a tooth extraction.
1. Your Tooth is Precious, and You Need to Save It
You need your tooth to stay for two main reasons—the tooth has a job, and maybe you need it for chewing or speech. It could be a wisdom tooth or one of your front teeth that is important for appearance. Whatever the case, when your tooth is essential, don’t give up on it just because it’s giving you a little bit of discomfort.
Treat your tooth and save it; make tooth extraction the last resort. With proper care and maintenance, you should be able to have it for a long time.
2. It’s a Much Safer Procedure
Many people unfamiliar with root canal procedures think the dentist has to drill the tooth to reach the pulp. They think the dentist has to remove the pulp and that the whole procedure is terrifying.
Yes, there are circumstances where it is necessary to remove the tooth pulp, but that is not always the case. Most of the time, the dentist will go through and clean the pulp and leave the root, tooth, and tissue. When done right, the tooth can last a long time.
On the other side, extraction is a very invasive procedure. The dentist has to drill and break the tooth to remove the pulp, tissue, and tooth. It will cause a lot of damage to your jaw structure and gum tissue.
While root canal therapy is difficult, it is much safer than having teeth extracted. It’s also more affordable than a tooth extraction.
3. You Save Money
Do not immediately get scared away from root canal therapy because you think it’s expensive. As doctors have said, it’s much cheaper than a tooth extraction.
Tooth extraction can be expensive because you must pay for expensive anesthesia. But if you go for a root canal instead, the costs will be much lower. Simple extraction costs $75 to $200 per tooth or more, depending on the anesthetic. Impacted teeth removal costs between $800 and $4,000.
In contrast, a root canal can cost anywhere between $700 to $1500 only. However, root canals with crowns can cost as much as $1800 to $5000 or more. The value for money with a root canal is that you get to save the tooth and maintain the integrity of your jaw and gum tissues.
Conclusion
Dental hygiene is the best way to avoid root canal therapy or tooth removal. The frequency of your dental visits to our office is essential. Don’t be afraid to seek help when problems arise because you want to keep your natural teeth for as long as possible. If you add good dental hygiene, your teeth should last a lifetime without further treatment.
Root canal therapy is very effective in saving your tooth from infection. It’s an excellent option for treating pain and discomfort, and it’s an even better way of preventing further complications from the infection.
If you need a reliable family dentist in Chattanooga that can provide family-focused dental services for all ages, the Shallowford Family Dental Group in Tennessee is a great choice. We are proud of our roots and love serving our community. We have provided excellent care since 1940 to thousands of patients who have entrusted us with their family’s oral health. Book an appointment with us today!