Tooth extraction and root canal both are dental procedures that dentists use to treat infected or damaged teeth. Both procedures can vary depending upon your oral health as well as your budget. Knowing the difference between tooth extraction vs root canal can help you get a better picture of them.
Root canal
If your teeth are infected or have diseased pulp but are in a condition to be saved, then your dentist will recommend you to go for a root canal. The pulp is the innermost layer of your teeth. The job of pulp is to provide a healthy supply of blood to each tooth. Cracking a tooth or development of a deep cavity can damage the pulp. Allowing bacteria from your mouth to reach the pulp, leading to infection or swelling. Sometimes it can even cause the pulp’s vital tissue to die.
Root canal treatment involves numbing the area around the affected tooth and making a hole through it to remove the diseased pulp. After removing the pulp, your dentist will carefully clean the pulp chambers to clear out the remaining bacteria. Then the dentist will fill the hole and may place a crown to help restore the appearance of the tooth.
Tooth Extraction
In cases when it is impossible to save a tooth, you will need to go for an extraction. These types of cases occur if you develop a very deep cavity, and it damages most of the structure of your tooth. The damage makes the tooth very weak to repair, and it leaves the only option of its removal.
The tooth extraction procedure is relatively simple. First, your dentist will numb the area, so you do not have to suffer any pain. Secondly, your tooth will be loosened while it remains in the socket. Lastly, your dentist will remove the affected tooth using forceps. The extraction site will typically take at least two weeks to heal; during this time, make sure to follow the aftercare instructions of your dentist.
If you have any questions related to tooth extraction vs root canal, feel free to call Brookshire Smile Dental at 281-934-1010.