Which Is Better —Saving Your Tooth or Pulling It Out?

Most dentists advise getting a tooth pulled if the tooth is really unhealthy or badly damaged. However, not all teeth that are decaying or damaged need to be extracted. Consult your dentist before deciding whether to extract or keep the tooth for future dental work. People frequently wonder if they should extract or save a tooth. While there are cases where dental care can preserve the tooth, there are also cases where extraction is the best option.

An Attleborough Falls family dentist would do all in their power to save your teeth before removing a tooth. Instead of extracting a tooth, it may be possible to keep it using surgery in some cases of oral health. 

Root canal to save your tooth

A root canal procedure is the way to salvage a broken tooth. Root canal therapy is the sole option for saving teeth when the pulp, or dental nerve, has been injured, infected, or killed. First, your dentist will apply a local anesthetic to the affected tooth. To access the tooth’s canals, a small hole must be drilled into the tooth. Your dentist will restore the tooth to provide additional protection and functioning.

Avoid losing your teeth if you suffer from specific dental issues, such as:

• Teeth that are broken or chipped
• Ongoing dental pain
• Heat and cold sensitivity in the teeth
• Discoloration of the teeth
• The movement of teeth
• Some minor tooth decay, etc.

Dental extraction

Although it is always ideal to save a tooth, there are situations in which extraction is the only course of action. Extraction of the afflicted tooth may be required in certain cases of severe tooth deterioration in order to avoid further issues. When a tooth breaks, extraction is the best option, particularly if the break is multiplex or below the gum line. For instance, it is advisable to have the tooth pulled if it is very weak or fractured.

Your dentist will walk you through the process if it is necessary to extract the severely damaged tooth. Prior to pulling a tooth, your dentist will conduct a comprehensive assessment of your medical and dental records, which may include X-ray imaging. Your dentist or oral surgeon can utilize X-rays to evaluate the most suitable approach for tooth extraction or referral, taking into consideration the dimensions, configuration, and location of the tooth and adjacent bone.

Let your dentist decide if teeth need to be extracted or if they may be salvaged. Although root canal therapy and other procedures can sometimes rescue damaged teeth, there are instances when extraction is the only option for optimal dental health.