Root Canal vs. Tooth Extraction

Since a damaged or diseased tooth cannot health itself, professional care is necessary to restore oral health. A tooth may require more than just restorative treatment such as a crown or filling. Badly decayed and damaged teeth often require root canal therapy or a tooth extraction. Root canal therapy is an endodontic procedure that removes infected nerves and cellular material deep inside a tooth whereas a tooth extraction is a surgical procedure that removes the entire tooth – including its roots. Our oral surgeons provide gentle extractions and many other services that improve oral health and wellbeing.

The Basics on Root Canal Therapy

When a tooth is severely injured or decayed, its interior structures may become infected. If bacteria are able to reach the root canal, the nerves and pulp will likely become inflamed. An infected root canal can produce severe pain among patients. To relieve pain and prevent a tooth from dying, root canal therapy is used to clean out and removed the infected structures inside a tooth. Using tiny tools, the innermost portion of a tooth is accessed and cleaned. The root canal is then sealed with a rubber-like compound, and in some cases; a restoration may be placed to protect the tooth from future damage.

Why Tooth Extraction May Be Necessary

Sometimes, a tooth cannot be saved with endodontic therapy and therefore must be removed. Removing a diseased or severely damaged tooth is an important surgical procedure that relieves discomfort and improves oral health. If a tooth isn’t salvageable, it should be removed so that painful conditions such as abscesses (which can threaten overall oral health) do not form. When performing an extraction, our team administers analgesic medication to ensure that our guests are comfortable and relaxed throughout their treatment. We also employ the latest technology and procedural techniques to improve treatment and recovery times.

We welcome you to contact the office of Central Oklahoma Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery Associates to schedule a consultation with our caring and experienced team of oral surgeons.

Call 405-624-1300 today to reserve an appointment.