Root canal versus extraction

davholla

Ignoring cost (not because I am rich but because it is my health).
My upper tooth at the end needs either extraction or root canal treatment.
My regular dentist advised extraction as she said that the teeth below might go sometime. I didn't take it in as I was in so much pain that I couldn't understand it all.

I am in favour of extraction to get rid of at once but the dentist I saw about the extraction said have root canal (she isn't doing it, so is not gaining either way).
I am 40, what long term risks are there if I do one or the other?

Has anyone had root canal and thought, how great or I wish I hadn't?

welshdent

To be honest I can't really answer this as I can not see you. I know thats vague but every individual is unique. If it is a back tooth then the root filled tooth will need some form of restoration to the whole tooth that is what we call "cuspal coverage". That is to say it covers the whole biting surface of the tooth and helps prevent fracture of the tooth. Root fillings are not 100% effective but when done well they have a 90 odd % success rate. ... but equally in the few that do fail its 100%. You would be looking at a good hour or 2 in the chair to have a root filling done.
Extractions - obviously you lose the tooth. If you were looking to fill the space in then that is often more expensive than the root filling and cap of some variety. Opposing teeth can sometimes over erupt in to the space left and adjacent teeth can tip in to the space. To what extent and any sort of likelihood can not be determined or even guessed at without seeing you. BUT ... once it has gone that tooth won't bother you again. IF you DO decide to get a root filling done, make sure it is by someone that has confidence in being able to do it.

davholla

welshdent wrote: »

Extractions - obviously you lose the tooth. If you were looking to fill the space in then that is often more expensive than the root filling and cap of some variety. Opposing teeth can sometimes over erupt in to the space left and adjacent teeth can tip in to the space. To what extent and any sort of likelihood can not be determined or even guessed at without seeing you. BUT ... once it has gone that tooth won't bother you again. IF you DO decide to get a root filling done, make sure it is by someone that has confidence in being able to do it.

Where we live only some dentists do root canal so they specialize in it and presumably know what they are doing.

About losing the tooth as it is at back and on the left, what harm can losing it do? The dentist said
a) try to keep it
b) having it out won't have any side effects
Which to be honest confused me more.

RichardD1970

I had this decision about 10 years ago, to me it was a no brainier, extraction every time.

Only because of my preconceived idea that root canal work is really painful and I hadn't been to the dentist in about 15 years. :embarasse

dandelionclock30

If you can keep it then do so, I've had about 4 root canals and one had to be redone after it cracked and its now crowned, as is another one. But they are all o.k and I've got a mouthfull of all my own teeth.
Once you start have teeth pulled out, you know whats next.. dentures. If you have it out then a few years down the line more on that side then your cheekbones can also begin to look sunken. Your better off with your own teeth really.
By the way it doest hurt the procedure, but I had tingling in the gums for quite a while afterwards. It was all the nerves settling down.

welshdent

RichardD1970 wrote: »

I had this decision about 10 years ago, to me it was a no brainier, extraction every time.

Only because of my preconceived idea that root canal work is really painful and I hadn't been to the dentist in about 15 years. :embarasse

the number of people that find root canal treatment painful is very much in the minority. Furthermore in the few instances it is a little uncomfortable, that tenderness is very much short lived and manageable with additional local anaesthetic

no1catman

Always take an option that includes 'saving' a tooth.
Really, 'root canal' is no big deal.
I've had one done in a Dental Hospital - even remembered the size of the rods pit in !!
And had one done by my dentist, with no anaesthetic - didn't hurt a bit - moreover no problems with since.
Having had extractions - I think they are more uncomfortable.

recovering_spendaholic

I have had two root canals - one didn't hurt a bit because the nerve in the tooth was dead - had it done years ago and had no problems since.

I had another one done last year and had nothing but trouble with it - firstly it hurt like mad having it done, even with the local, and secondly it didn't work because I got an abscess at the base of the tooth some months after the root canal, and ended up having the tooth extracted.

Extraction was painful because the local didn't take very well because of all the infection. I wish I'd just had it out in the first place, particulary as it is right at the back of my mouth.

I think if the tooth were "visible" I would do anything to save it though, because I hate the thought of dentures.

elsien

Another vote for root canal where practicable.
Just because the thought of losing a tooth even one at the back made me feel like it was the start of a slippery slope towards old age and dentures.
Plus although you probably get used to it over time, eating feels odd where there's a gap when there didn't used to be. (I have had a wisdom tooth extracted as well because it wasn't salvageable and I found the gap it left really annoying.)
The root canal may not last - I'm still getting the odd niggle where the tooth may have an invisible crack - but it's been 4 years now and worth it for me. Worth checking out whoever does its success rates though - the specialist in my practice although more expensive had a lower failure rate than my normal dentist who would have done it cheaper.
If you're really not clear on what you've been told, why not phone up and go through it again?