Root Canal or Extraction? Making the Right Decision

One of the most common situations I encounter in the clinic is this: the patient arrives in pain and says, "Doctor, it hurts so much, if you can't save it, just pull it out." However, for a dentist, extraction is always the last resort. So, is a Root Canal or Tooth Extraction the right decision for a painful tooth?

Root Canal: The Tooth's Last Chance

Root canal treatment involves cleaning the infected nerves (pulp) inside the tooth, disinfecting the canals, and filling them with special filling materials.

Why Should You Choose a Root Canal?

• It's Your Own Tooth: No artificial tooth can completely replace your own natural tooth.
• Chewing Function: Chewing with your own tooth keeps the bone structure alive.
• Aesthetics and Alignment: When a tooth is extracted, adjacent teeth begin to tilt toward the gap. Root canal treatment eliminates this risk.

When is Tooth Extraction Unavoidable?

In some cases, unfortunately, the tooth cannot be saved:

• If there are vertical fractures in the tooth root,
• If decay has gone too far below the gum line and a restoration cannot be made,
• Extraction may be required in cases where large cysts completely surround the tooth root.

Protecting Your Own Tooth or an Implant?

Many patients ask, "Isn't it a more definitive solution to have it extracted and get an implant?" Here are the facts:

1. Cost: Root canal treatment is much more economical than a tooth extraction followed by implant treatment.
2. Duration: Root canal treatment usually finishes in 1-2 sessions. The implant process, however, can take months.
3. Biology: The ligaments around your own tooth root transmit the force of chewing to the brain; you cannot fully capture this natural feeling with an implant.

Root Canal Fear: Will I Feel Pain?

Thanks to modern endodontic technology and powerful local anesthetics, the root canal procedure is no different from getting a simple filling. You will not feel any pain during the procedure. In fact, our patients who come in with severe pain feel relieved of that pressure as soon as the procedure is finished.

Before You Decide...

Extracting your tooth is a path of no return. At Master Smile Studio, our priority is always "preventive dentistry." If we have a chance to save your tooth with a root canal or a zirconium crown on top of it, we will definitely push for that chance.

We are waiting for you for coffee and a personalized treatment plan in our clinic in Antalya. Click to make an appointment.