Root Canal vs. Teeth Extraction: Which is Better?

When teeth hurt, it hurts. It is one of those things that everyone knows to be true. It hurts a lot in the mouth, is hard to eat, and hurts when your tongue or food touches that sore tooth. We’ve all been there, so we go to the dentist to feel better.

When a dead tooth or an infection deep in the gums and roots of a tooth is causing pain, you know you are in big trouble. The fix won’t be easy, and it might take a while to get things okay again.

We see many people with terrible tooth problems at Solomon Kids Dentistry. People come to us in the worst pain and want help right away. Root canal treatment may not be as easy as pulling a tooth, but it is often the better choice.

Let’s look at when you should get a root canal instead of having a tooth pulled in this post to help you.

Finding The Cause of the Problem

The infection and decay in the tooth and the roots that hold it in place cause severe pain, usually in a back tooth. Here at our clinic, we will look at your mouth to find the source of the problem.

When we know everything about what’s going on in your mouth, we can suggest a specific treatment. But of course, with the safest and best methods.

First, Dealing with The Infection

Most dentists suggest a course of antibiotics if the infection is causing problems like swelling and severe pain. That’s because we can see what needs to be done once the condition goes away.

How Each Treatment Relieves Dental Pain

A toothache is often caused by an infection or damage to the pulp, which is the tooth’s innermost chamber. When the nerve inside the tooth gets hurt, it sends many pain signals to the brain.

Again, the problem is fixed by taking out the tooth, the infected tissue, and the nerve causing the pain. But there are other ways, like Root Canal.

Root canal therapy is a less aggressive form of care. During the procedure, the damaged tissue and nerve are removed from the tooth. Then, a unique material called gutta-percha is used to fill the tooth.

Contrary to what most people think, root canal therapy is not painful. Most people don’t feel much or anything at all during the process. Let’s talk more about how Root Canal goes into this method.

Root Canal at Solomon Family

People used to be afraid of getting a root canal, but now it’s a straightforward way to treat deep infections in the teeth. Solomon Kids Dentistry, which has offices in Summerville and Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, does root canals often to remove the pain of infected teeth and make your mouth healthy again.

The method effectively works with today’s tools and techniques. Our dentist at Solomon Kids will either use a solid numbing gel or inject an anesthetic into your gum to ensure you don’t feel any pain.

Next, we’ll put a hole drilled in the top of your tooth to get to the pulp. Your dentist removes the pulp and cleans the space in your tooth with special dental tools.

This is an integral part of the procedure because leaving even a tiny bit of infected tissue behind could lead to a new infection. When the hole in your tooth is clean, your dentist will fill it and seal it.

After a root canal, you might want a crown to strengthen the tooth again. When the anesthetic wears off, you might feel sore, but you can take over-the-counter pain medicine to make yourself feel better.

Teeth Extraction at Solomon Family

Even though skilled dentists can often save teeth that are badly broken or sick, sometimes you still need to have teeth pulled. Solomon Kids Dentistry can help if you or your child needs an extraction.

As with a root canal, a tooth extraction starts with a local anesthetic to numb the area. Your dentist will pull out your tooth with the help of special tools. You will feel some pressure and hear loud cracking and popping sounds, but it shouldn’t hurt.

It’s normal to bleed after having a tooth pulled, so you’ll be sent home with gauze to bite down on for 30–45 minutes or as directed. You might ooze or bleed a little over the next 24 hours.

When a back tooth is pulled, it’s common for the face to swell and bruise a little bit. Using an ice pack for 15 to 20 minutes at a time for the first 24 to 48 hours can help reduce these problems.

Then after a tooth is pulled, it is normal to feel pain. So your dentist might prescribe a pain reliever, which you should take as directed to avoid pain. Some people take over-the-counter painkillers like Tylenol or Advil to deal with the pain.

Most people feel much better after two or three days, but remember that it can take two weeks or more for the area where the tooth was pulled to heal fully. Pay close attention to what your dentist tells you, especially how to spit, drink through a straw, eat, and brush your teeth.