Does a toothache have you in so much pain that you are planning to go to your dentist to have the tooth extracted? If so, take a moment to understand why it is better to try to salvage your damaged tooth than get it removed. 

Cost Effective

The idea to get your tooth extracted may initially seem like the cheapest way to get you well. However, you need to look beyond the initial extraction visit. If you get the tooth extracted, there will be a gap left behind. Over time, your other teeth may shift in an effort to compensate for the space left behind by the missing tooth. The only definite way to prevent this shifting from occurring after an extraction is to get additional dental work completed, which will mean future costs associated with the extraction. For example, dental implants or bridges may be needed to fill the spaces left behind by extracted teeth. 

Opting to salvage your tooth will mean that your natural tooth is left in place. This means that the costs you are looking at will be related to the root canal and other endodontic treatment focused on preserving the affected tooth.

Time Saver

You may be thinking that a tooth extraction will be a quick trip to your dentist, and you may assume that a root canal will take many hours or several visits. A root canal procedure can be completed in one or two office visits. If you opt for an extraction, keep in mind the future visits that may occur if you require dental appliances. In some cases, the visits to the dentist for dental appliances can be many. For example, a person who needs dentures as a result of getting their teeth extracted may have to get fitted for dentures several times before finding a comfortable fitting prosthetic. 

Better Technology = Less Pain

Perhaps you are a person who has fears due to misconceptions about root canals. You may fear there is more pain to be experienced by allowing a dentist to drill inside of a tooth that is already causing you a great deal of pain. Today's anesthesia options and advancements in root canal procedures aid in ensuring that the pain experienced by patients is minimal. For example, sedation may be used during the procedure if an individual shows extreme signs of anxiety.

An endodontist is the best resource to use if you agree that salvaging your natural teeth sounds much better than extracting them. If your dentist has advised you that your tooth is not salvageable, consider visiting an endodontist for a second opinion. This is because endodontists are dentists who have received additional years of training that is focused on preserving teeth and performing advanced root canal procedures. If you have questions, consider contacting a local endodontists, such as Washington Township Dental Associates.