Learning to Take Better Care of Your Family's Teeth

Root Canal Versus Tooth Extraction: 3 Reasons Root Canals Are Often The Better Option

If you have a tooth that has been severely damaged by decay, you will often have the choice between a root canal procedure or simply having the tooth extracted. In many cases, individuals will choose to have the tooth pulled either because it is more affordable or because they are a bit anxious when it comes to the idea of having a root canal done. This is really quite unfortunate because the truth is that root canals often provide the more beneficial solution to severe tooth decay. Continue reading to learn more about the three reasons why you should seriously consider a root canal rather than having your tooth extracted.

#1: Root Canals Prevent Any Bone Loss That Is Associated With Tooth Loss

Extracting even a single tooth can result in bone loss in your jaw over the course of time. An extracted tooth leaves behind an empty tooth socket which will inevitably close as the jaw begins to heal. This can cause the jaw to shrink and lose bone density. Root canals prevent this type of bone loss by leaving the structure of your tooth intact. 

#2: A Root Canal Will Preserve Your Bite Strength

When you have a tooth extracted, you may experience a decrease in bite strength. In order to maintain your natural bite strength, you must have both a tooth on the upper and lower arch that come together to tear or grind your food. If one of these teeth is missing, you will inevitably find it harder to bite and chew your food. This remains true even if you choose to replace your missing tooth with a partial denture or bridge since these tooth replacement options do not offer the same bite strength as a natural tooth. Since a root canal allows you to keep your natural tooth while adding the strength of a dental crown as well, this procedure does allow you to preserve or even improve your current bite strength. 

#3: Root Canals Prevent Surrounding Teeth From Shifting 

Whether you lose your tooth or it is extracted by a dentist, the space that is left behind by this missing tooth can have a negative impact on the rest of your teeth as well because your teeth rely on each other to keep them in their proper place. When there is additional space created by a missing tooth, the surrounding teeth will often begin to shift over time. This can result in some rather large gaps in your teeth. Depending upon the location and size of these gaps, you could find that they interfere with your ability to properly bite and chew food. 

For more information about root canals, contact a local dental office.


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