6 reasons why saving your natural teeth matters
Your teeth are one of the most important features of your face. Not only do they help you chew and speak, but they also play a role in your overall appearance. So when it comes to the decision of whether you should try root canal therapy or just get a tooth extracted, there's a lot to consider. In this blog post, we will discuss six reasons why saving your teeth using a root canal or other method by an endodontist is better than pulling teeth.
Root canals are less invasive than pulling teeth.
When you undergo a root canal at Granbury Endodontics, Dr. Nieves will carefully remove the damaged or infected pulp from within your tooth, clean and seal the root canal space to prevent further damage and fill your tooth with a filling material.
In comparison, having teeth pulled often requires cutting into the gums and exposing the root of the tooth in order to extract the entire root from its socket. This also means that the recovery time is greater because the affected area will have to take more time to heal as compared to having a root canal.
A root canal is generally less painful than having teeth pulled.
Because root canals involve removing only the inner parts of your tooth that are affected by infection or decay, they cause much less discomfort than traditional dental extractions. Of course, the procedure itself is not painful, but the recovery pain from getting a tooth pulled can often be much worse than having a root canal. The recovery time is also quicker if you have a root canal compared to removing a tooth, and with advances in endodontic technology like the GentleWave® machine, you'll breeze through your root canal therapy with less pain than you'd have ever thought.
A root canal helps preserve as much of your natural tooth structure as possible.
Since root canals only involve removing the infected parts of the root canal tissue, they help save more of your natural tooth than a traditional extraction. This helps to prevent any further damage to the remaining parts of your tooth and also makes it easier to replace the missing root with a dental implant or other prosthetic in the future.
A root canal procedure can cost less over time than having teeth pulled.
When done properly, a root canal procedure can save your tooth and keep its function for years to come. That means you avoid the complications and costs from tooth extraction that might appear down the line, such as infection or discomfort. Think of it this way: if you have a proper root canal procedure and you can keep using your tooth regularly, that's much less expensive than having the tooth removed then having to see an oral specialist later on down the line from potential complications from tooth extraction.
Having root canals done early on can help prevent other oral health problems down the line.
By removing the decay or infection from your root canal and sealing it, you are able to keep the root tip healthy and prevent further damage. This can help reduce your risk of developing gum disease or tooth loss later on in life.
A root canal improves the overall appearance of your teeth and smile.
Because root canals remove only the inner portions of your root, they do not typically cause any visual changes to your teeth. In other words, this means that if you opt for a root canal procedure now, you won't have ugly dark spots in your mouth in place of your missing tooth down the line! Instead, you can rest assured that your smile will look just as beautiful as ever after undergoing a root canal procedure.
If you're not sure if root canal therapy is right for you, please contact our office and speak with one of our Granbury Endodontics staff! We'd love to help consult and figure out the best path going forward for your oral health. Contact us either by filling out this form or calling our office in Granbury at (817) 776-4646.