Poor lifestyle and oral hygiene maintenance often lead to one’s teeth decaying or getting infected with bacteria. dentists Reston VA typically recommend a root canal or tooth extraction to patients who have this dental concern.
Both procedures offer different sets of advantages and disadvantages. This is why many people are often puzzled as to which treatment should they undergo to prevent the decay and infection from affecting other areas of the mouth.
What is Root Canal
The innermost layer of one’s teeth is called pulp. It is mainly responsible if ensuring proper blood flow. If you develop a deep cavity, it can cause damage to this sensitive tissue.
If the affected teeth are still viable and can still be restored, dentists Reston VA usually recommend root canal therapy or treatment.
In this dental procedure, you will be injected with local anesthesia before your dentist makes an opening or a canal on the affected area. He or she will then proceed to remove all the damaged pulp and the bacteria present in the affected teeth, replacing them with a special filling afterward. The teeth’s appearance and strength will be restored via dental crowns.
What is Tooth Extraction
If the damage of the decay extends way below the gum line, that’s the time when dentists Reston VA would say you’re a candidate for tooth extraction.
Just like undergoing a root canal, your mouth needs to feel temporarily numb to avoid feeling the pain and pressure that come with this type of dental surgery. After the anesthesia takes effect, your dentist will use special equipment (which works like a lever) to loosen the affected tooth. He or she will extract the damaged tooth by using forceps. The extracted natural tooth can be replaced with a dental implant or bridge.
Root Canal vs. Tooth Extraction
You can think of root canal as the first choice if you want to save your natural teeth. If they’re damaged severely, your last resort would be extraction. But what are the perks associated with each procedure? We’ve listed them down below:
Root canal is generally less painful. Though both procedures entail giving you anesthesia, root canal is less painful. With extraction, there’s a high chance for you to feel pressure, especially when the teeth are being extracted from their sockets.
Root canal retains the natural function of your teeth. As your natural teeth remain in your mouth, their main functions like biting and chewing can still be optimally done. This is something artificial teeth replacements can’t do exactly as how their natural counterparts can.
Extraction is a procedure you can do when the teeth affected are hardly accessible. There are cases when the damaged teeth are too difficult to access, making root canal treatment a futile option for teeth restoration. This is when extraction comes handy — it can be done even on teeth that are hard to have access to.
Extraction warrants lesser dental clinic visits and check-ups. As you’ve already removed the damaged teeth, there’s no chance for it to be infected again. This will translate to lesser visits to your dentist, though you still need to have regular check-ups to examine if your oral health is in good condition (or if your implants — if you have them — are well-maintained and not loose).
SmileZone has the best dentists Reston VA who provide quality and affordable care for the entire family. Contact us today to schedule your visit.
